Part of 2. 2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children – in the Senedd at 3:01 pm on 20 September 2017.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The statistics on domestic violence are shocking. In Wales and England, on average, two women are killed by their partner or ex-partner every week. Domestic abuse-related crime is 10 per cent of the total crime—a figure that is increasing—yet it remains the violent crime least likely to be reported to the police. Whilst prosecution rates are rising year on year, reoffending rates remain too high. It’s estimated that four in 10 survivors of domestic abuse are repeat victims. The introduction of a domestic violence offenders register would shift the onus on to the perpetrators. This would allow the police to hold information on perpetrators, prioritise resources based on risk and, most importantly, better protect survivors. With this in mind, will the Cabinet Secretary explore the establishment of a Welsh domestic violence register?