New Report into the criminalisation of black and minority women

Pragna Patel, our co-director, conducted the research for the vital report published today by Centre for Women's Justice on the unjust criminalisation of women who are themselves victim-survivors of abuse.

The report, 'They Don't Understand Abuse', presents insights from survivors of violence and women's specialist services about police and prosecution practice when survivors are accused of offending, and recommends urgent reforms.

One case shared in the report involves a survivor who was accused by her abusive partner of child abuse, and was separated from her children, including her breastfeeding baby, as a result.

Pragna Patel said: “The case examples and reflections in this study suggest the privileging of the male voice and downgrading of the voices of women, particularly those who are marginalised, including Black, Asian, minoritised and migrant women. Vulnerability itself appears in some cases to be a driver of criminalisation and detention, which is directly contrary to the public interest.”

Harriet Wistrich, Solicitor and Chief Executive Officer of CWJ, said:
“For many years now, CWJ and others have called for legislation to provide effective defences for victims of domestic abuse who are accused of offending, and for improved leadership, training, guidance and accountability mechanisms to improve practice by police and prosecutors so that victims’ experience of abuse is properly taken into account in any proceedings against them. These calls have recently been echoed by the government-appointed independent Women’s Justice Board and we await the government’s response.''

For the full report, please go to this link: https://lnkd.in/esSMBABg
For the briefing, please go to this link: https://lnkd.in/e7ZwG6zx
For the press release, please go to this link: https://lnkd.in/e_sCiHtm