The government is too focused on channelling domestic violence cases through criminal courts rather than ensuring protection and legal advice for domestic violence victims, solicitors told the Gazette this week as the government announced a new tranche of specialist courts.


While welcoming the government's decision to create 30 more specialist domestic violence courts across the country - bringing the national total to 98 - lawyers warned that chasing prosecutions does not ensure long-term security for victims.



Emma Scott, acting director of Rights for Women, said: 'We are concerned about the very clear focus the government has put on criminal justice remedies [to tackle domestic violence]... The criminal justice system deals only with past behaviour.'



Deborah McIlveen, policy and services manager for the Women's Aid Federation, welcomed 'any attempt' to improve conviction rates which currently stand at just 3.5%, but called for the integration of the civil, family and criminal justice systems in domestic violence cases.



The specialist courts use trained magistrates to fast track cases, with separate facilities for victims.



Anita Rice