Multiple forms of domestic abuse should be criminalised in Guernsey by the end of 2024

Thursday, 20 June 2024 07:25

The Home Affairs Committee says new legislation will protect victims and their families and reduce the risk of re-offending.

The creation of the new Domestic Abuse Law 2024 is part of the States Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Strategy, that was approved by the Assembly in 2022.

As well as making Domestic Abuse a specific offence, it will criminalise causing or allowing death or serious harm in a household, non-violent child cruelty and threatening revenge pornography.

Deputy Sue Aldwell says these changes are needed to protect people and empower law enforcement:

"This will help the police, because at the moment there is very little that they can do. These laws are for the protection victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence."

She say the threat of sharing sexual images can be traumatising:

"The emotional turmoil that people go through, the mental health problems that they may encounter with that, it shouldn’t even be thought about. That is the reason were are putting it in, to give people peace of mind, that it will be an offence.

"So if someone threatens to put out images after a relationship, maybe to disclose sexual images from that relationship, then that will be an offence."

Deputy Aldwell says the new law will also give Guernsey's courts and police the power to issue Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders - which would enable the removal of the perpetrator from the home - and breaching it would be a criminal offence:

"It should never, ever have to be the victim that has to leave the home, with children.

"This will allow families to get their lives back in order."