04 July 2023 , 23:01
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Three in five women in prison and under community supervision by probation services are victims of domestic abuse, a Labour MP warns today.
Kate Osamor will tell a Westminster Hall debate that victims put in jail are overrepresented by Black, Asian and minority ethnic women and girls.
She will demand ministers provide details on how they plan to tackle the fact Black women are twice as likely as white women to be arrested, and that a quarter of girls and nearly a fifth of young women prosecuted in 2021 were from minority ethnic groups.
The Labour MP's debate is supported by specialist charities calling for victims' experiences to be taken into account in decisions to arrest, prosecute, convict or sentence them for offences linked to abuse.
They argue that better defences are needed for victims of domestic abuse who use force against their abuser or for those who are coerced into offending.
'I ventured into Alcatraz after dark and was terrified by what I saw and heard'
Kate Osamor will demand ministers provide details on how they plan to tackle the fact Black women are twice as likely as white women to be arrested (MDM)They are calling for “serious and urgent action” including improvements in training and guidance for police, prosecutors, judges and magistrates.
Ms Osamor, the MP for Edmonton, said: "This debate is a real opportunity to draw attention to how many victims of domestic violence who due to their abuse themselves are accused of offending are unjustly drawn into the criminal justice system.
“I look forward to seeing many other Parliamentarians at the debate to raise awareness and urge the Government to undertake reforms to stop this unfair criminalisation.”
Indy Cross, chief executive at Agenda Alliance, said the inequalities experienced by Black, Asian, minoritised and migrant women in the criminal justice system are “unacceptable”.
“At every stage of the system these women are overrepresented, let down and their needs are overlooked. Agenda’s research shows that it is too often women’s experience of trauma and abuse which drives women’s criminalisation, yet survivors of violence accused of offending do not have their experiences of violence taken into account by law,” she said.
“Serious and urgent action is needed now to ensure the fair treatment of Black, Asian, minoritised and migrant women who are victims of domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence.”
Ghadah Alnasseri, policy chief at Hibiscus Initiatives, said: “Encountering gender inequality and racism is all too common for Black, Asian and minoritised women, as well as migrant women who have experienced violence against women and girls and are in contact with the criminal justice system. However, I firmly believe that these challenges can be overcome."
She added: "Despite some progress in addressing these issues, the efforts have been limited and disjointed. A comprehensive strategic approach is necessary to create meaningful improvements in outcomes for these women.”
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