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Domestic violence regulations change
New regulations expanding the evidence criteria to claim legal aid in domestic violence cases come into force on 22 April: Civil Legal Aid (Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 SI No 814. For example, police bail for a domestic violence offence and domestic violence protection orders can now be used as evidence to access legal aid.
The changes have been welcomed by women’s charities including Rights of Women (ROW). Emma Scott, director of ROW, said that she supported the government’s ongoing commitment to review the domestic violence gateway regulations but added, ‘even as amended the evidence criteria still do not reflect the realities of the lives of women affected by violence and the routes they take to safety’.