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Make patterned domestic violence a specific criminal offence with no time limits

Submitted by Lara O'Donoghue on Thursday 29th April 2021

Published on Wednesday 5th May 2021

Current status: Closed

Closed: Friday 5th November 2021

Signatures: 119

Relevant Departments

Tagged with

6 Months ~ Assault ~ Assaulted ~ Criminal ~ Justices ~ mentalhealth ~ month ~ No Time ~ Time ~ Victim ~ Violence

Petition Action

Make patterned domestic violence a specific criminal offence with no time limits

Petition Details

Many cases of patterned domestic violence are treated as isolated instances of common assault. This means victims must come forward within 6 months or go without justice. Patterned DV should be made a specific criminal offence, with no time limits for bringing a prosecution.

Additional Information

Current legislation affords abusers unjust protections against conviction. It is well known and widely accepted that victims of domestic violence may not come forward for many reasons. Abusers who have abused in a frequent or patterned manner over a period of time are protected from being charged if their victim does not come forward within 6 months. This is detrimental to the mental health of victims, denies victims justice, and undermines the protection and advocacy that victims deserve.


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