Action for Children responds to the reintroduction of the Domestic Abuse Bill to Parliament

Director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, Imran Hussain, said:

“A child cowering in the shadow of terrifying domestic abuse is an innocent victim, not just a witness. It’s vital the Bill recognises children this way, or we’ll miss the chance to transform how we help them for years to come.

“Every day hundreds of children¹ are living in families where a parent is suffering horrifying physical and psychological abuse. From flashbacks, nightmares, bed-wetting, depression, or even wanting to end their lives – our frontline staff know all too well the emotional scars this trauma leaves on children’s lives.

“This Bill gives us the opportunity to shape the landscape of how society protects and helps children exposed to domestic abuse and ensures they have a safe and happy childhood. But we need to put children at the heart of it, along with real investment in specialist services and fresh thinking on how we tackle our wider childhood crisis with a National Childhood Strategy.”

ENDS