§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of specialist domestic violence courts. [178992]
§ Mr. LeslieMy Department and the Crown Prosecution Service commissioned an evaluation of five specialist magistrates courts operating in Cardiff, Derby, Leeds, West London and Wolverhampton. The results of the evaluation were presented at a national conference in London, on 22 March 2004.
The findings of the research indicated that a specialist listing or fast-track system for domestic violence cases, which included effective support for victims, had notable and positive benefits. The Government are considering how to encourage more magistrates' courts to develop specialist domestic violence sittings. This could provide not only an improved service to court users, especially victims, but could also improve outcomes for criminal justice targets by narrowing the justice gap and improving victims' confidence in the criminal justice courts system.
A copy of the research report will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
My Department has also set up a National Implementation Project Board to take forward the idea of developing Integrated Domestic Violence Courts which would hear both civil and criminal aspects of domestic violence cases.