MPs back campaign to strengthen domestic abuse bill

Three-quarters of MPs have dealt with an issue of domestic abuse in their constituency in the past three months alone, and a quarter within the last week, according to polling for a campaign to strengthen the law on domestic violence.

The poll came as Theresa May hinted on Wednesday that the government could consider strengthening the offence of coercive control when an MP raised concern about “gaslighting” – when an abuser convinces a partner they are suffering from mental health issues.

Concerns about gaslighting were raised in parliament by the former culture secretary John Whittingdale, who spoke about the suicide of his constituent Natalie Lewis-Hoyle, daughter of the Commons deputy speaker. Sir Lindsay Hoyle. An inquest heard she had been in “a very toxic relationship” before her death.

May said she had the “deepest sympathies” with Hoyle, who was watching prime minister’s questions from the gallery, and his wife, Miriam Lewis, suggesting the government was looking to strengthen the definition of the offence of coercion.

“Since the introduction of that offence, there have been almost 300 successful prosecutions,” May said. “That shows what a problem this issue is out there.

“We are always looking for what more can be done and, in our consultation on transforming the law on domestic abuse and violence, we are currently looking for ideas on how the offence can be further strengthened, to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Downing Street said gaslighting is already covered under the offence of coercive control in the Serious Crime Act 2015.

On Wednesday, more than 100 MPs and peers backed a campaign for stronger measures in the forthcoming domestic abuse bill, including the former cabinet ministers Justine Greening and Ian Duncan Smith and the shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott.

MPs and peers are to attend a rally in parliament to back the measures, spearheaded by the refuge charity Hestia, which has called for greater mental health funding support for children who have witnessed or experienced domestic abuse, and expanding employers’ “duty of care” to responsibilities in dealing with domestic abuse.

The Labour MP Carolyn Harris, the shadow minister for women, wrote to May on Wednesday to ask her to consider the proposals from Hestia’s “UK Says No More” campaign.

In ComRes polling for Hestia, MPs said they were dealing with constituents affected by domestic abuse on an alarmingly regular basis. Three-quarters said they had dealt with an issue in the past three months, a quarter within the last week, and two-thirds of MPs said they had a friend or family member who had been abused.

Harris, who has also written to the home secretary, Sajid Javid, and the international development secretary, Penny Mordaunt, who is also minister for women and equalities, said domestic abuse was “a silent national epidemic”.

“Domestic abuse destroys people’s lives and children’s futures,” she said. “I welcome the domestic abuse bill but the government can and must go further.”

The new bill, which is out for public consultation, is a flagship piece of legislation for the prime minister, who has spoken about the personal impact stories of domestic violence have had on her, saying it was a key personal priority to transform the way the UK thought about tackling abuse.

As home secretary, May introduced laws criminalising coercive control and a disclosure scheme allowing people to ask the police about whether a new partner has a history of abuse offences.

The bill is to provide a new statutory definition of domestic abuse that includes economic abuse, alongside other non-physical abuse, as well as allowing for tougher sentences in cases involving children and creating new domestic abuse protection orders, which allow police and courts to intervene earlier.

However, data obtained by the Guardian in March found millions of pounds have been cut from council spending on refuges for vulnerable women and children. Of 178 authorities that responded to the Guardian’s request for information, 65% had cut funding in real terms since 2010, amounting to an average fall for each of £38,000, or £6.8m in total.