To agree with Boris Johnson - this government is abandoning victims of domestic violence

[Flowertower]

My Dh is a solicitor, yesterday he pointed out this article to me from the Law Society Gazette.

www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/boris-johnson-criticises-legal-aid-proposals-domestic-violence

For a start, I am pretty shocked that I agree with Boris Johnson about anything, but he seems to have got a good point here. When the government proposed that legal aid for divorce and private children's matters would be withdrawn, they were adamant that victims of domestic abuse would be eligible for help. Under these proposals, victims would have to prove domestic violence 'through a formal judicial, police or social services process in which domestic violence was certified to have happened.'

Because of its very nature, domestic violence tends to be hidden and not reported. Those (usually) women who have been too frightened to report their abusive partners will not have sufficient proof to show that they have been victims and so will not be able to access legal aid. So, even if they have no funds available to them, they would have to stand up to their abuser in court in divorce or any contact disputes.

Of course it can't be right if the system allows a person to claim domestic violence without any challenge at all. After all, that would be too easy a way to get legal aid. What Boris is suggesting is that referral to other agencies should be taken as proof of domestic violence.

AIBU to agree with Boris?

[Kladdkaka]

This is terrible. I doubt I would have been able to prove anything when I got divorced. As you say, it's the nature of the beast. Even back then (17 years ago) there were parts not covered by legal aid. Thankfully my solicitor did everything anyway for no extra charge.

[caramelwaffle]

This is bad. Really bad.

[Birdsgottafly]

The changes across the board to Legal Aid are very bad, it will mean that vunerable people cannot have legal redress in many matters.

DV now 'flags up' to SS and if SS are going to step in then no further proof should be needed, so referal to 'other agencies' should be taken as proof, as these 'other agencies', probably Children and Family teams of some sort ,do not offer their services unless they are satisfied that their budget is being well spent.

[Flowertower]

It just seems like such a betrayal. They were so keen to reassure people that victims of domestic violence would be protected and then make it very difficult for them to actually access legal aid.

[crazynanna]

Boris also impressed me recently with his views on Housing Benefit changes in London,saying it was "social cleansing".

Me thinks old Boris may be a closet Socialist

I still think he's a plank though.

YANU to agree with Boris...just this once!

[Kladdkaka]

BORIS FOR PM! Yes he's a plank, but at least we'd all be laughing as the country fell apart.

[Ormirian]

"Boris is so difficult. Sometimes he's actually avery thoughtful person and sometimes he's a plank"

Just like the rest of the human race then

[HerBeX]

Gosh that's twice in a week I've agreed with BoJo

Is anyone really surprised that this government is shafting victims of DV? They hate women. They really hate us. If men were living with the levels of fear and pain so many women are, it would be a national crisis. But it's women, so this government withdraws funds to help them.

Ho hum.

[Flowertower]

Something strange is going on when you find yourself agreeing with Boris. It's also rather sad that he appears to be the only political figure who is speaking up about this issue.

I think there will be dark times ahead.

[Meglet]

I wonder if this is linked to their plans to let DV victims off the dreadful planned CSA charges. If they can't prove DV happened then they can whack the charges against them.

BoJo doesn't know when to shut up and doesn't care who he pisses off, sometimes it's a good thing!

[crazynanna]

Meglet,I'm loving 'BoJo'
Permission to use,Ma'am

[Meglet]

HerBex said it first. I pinched it!

[notcitrus]

YANBU. I've started almost liking Boris simply because David Cameron clearly can't stand him. Watch next time Boris gives a speech with DC in the background looking more and more tense and about to explode with gas...

[Kladdkaka]

Says a lot about the government doesn't it. They make Boris look good.

[BertieBotts]

BoJo is BRILLIANT. My sister's favourite doll was called Bojo. It was much battered, usually naked and carted everywhere by one leg. And it had a wonky eye.

But yeah, those proposals are fucking awful

[crazynanna]

BertieBotts Uncanny resemblance,that doll and the fella himself