Introduction
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 became Law in April 2021 and changes were required in how North Tyneside Council respond and treat cases of domestic abuse. North Tyneside Council and the North Tyneside Domestic Abuse Partnership have worked together to ensure the new duties as set out by the Act are implemented appropriately and efficiently. The Council’s Housing Services Domestic Abuse Policy has been updated to reflect new national legislation.
1.1 Key Changes
The new Domestic Abuse Act includes a legal definition of domestic abuse and wide-ranging legal definition of the types of domestic abuse. The Act incorporates a range of abuses, beyond physical violence and sexual abuse, including threatening behaviour, emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, as well as economic abuse.
Other key changes include:
- Providing all eligible homeless survivors of domestic abuse to automatically have ‘priority need’ for homelessness assistance
- Placing the guidance supporting the Domestic Abuse Offender Disclosure Scheme on a statutory footing
- Giving police new powers including Domestic Abuse Protection Notices providing survivors of immediate protection from abusers
- Recognise children as victims of domestic abuse in their own right, if they see, hear or experience the effects of abuse
- Extending the controlling or coercive behaviour to cover posts-separation abuse and strengthening rules surrounding controlling and coercive behaviour
The Domestic Abuse Policy sets out how North Tyneside Council’s Housing Service will assist and support any person experiencing or threatened with domestic abuse. As a landlord and also the provider of homelessness support, housing advice and letting of homes to tenants the Council has a role to play in supporting survivors of domestic abuse and prevention.