There's even more good news on our PCSC Bill, as I'm pleased to say the Government has now announced further amendments to keep women and girls safer.
1. Domestic Abuse
- Under the proposed changes, victims of domestic abuse will be allowed more time to report incidents of common assault or battery against them.
- Currently, prosecutions must commence within six months of the offence.
- Instead, this requirement will be moved to six months from the date the incident is formally reported to the police – with an overall time limit of two years from the offence to bring a prosecution. Domestic abuse is often reported late relative to other crimes; so this will ensure victims have enough time to seek justice and that perpetrators answer for their actions.
2. Non-consensual photographs
- Taking non-consensual photographs or video recordings of breastfeeding mothers will be made a specific offence punishable by up to two years in prison.
- It covers situations where the motive is to obtain sexual gratification, or to cause humiliation, distress or alarm.
- Similar legislation introduced by the Government in 2019 that criminalised “upskirting” has led to more than 30 prosecutions since it became law.
- Ministers are changing the law to protect mums from being harassed no matter where they choose to breastfeed.
I am proud our crucial PCSC Bill will give police and prosecutors the clarity and powers they need to ensure perpetrators face justice. These measures build on those already in this Bill which will better protect women such as ending the halfway release of offenders sentenced between four and seven years in prison for serious sexual offences – forcing them to spend two-thirds of their time in prison.