UK Parliament / Open data

Domestic Abuse Bill

Proceeding contribution from Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws (Labour) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 10 March 2021. It occurred during Debate on bills on Domestic Abuse Bill.

I feel that that was unnecessary, but I was coming to my conclusion anyway. There must be a causal link between the threat and the decision of the defendant to break the law, and that is a high bar. I strongly urge the House to support this new statutory defence for women who are compelled to commit crimes so that they can put it before the court where it can be tested and measured evidentially. If it passes the test, she can be acquitted.

Amendment 66 is a list of the offences to which this would not apply because of their gravity. I hope that the Crown does not think that there are two kinds of victims: those who are somehow deserving and those who are undeserving. The end of the road is when women are forced to do things that take them into the criminal ambit because of a history of abuse. I beg to move.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
810 c1074 
Session
2019-21
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
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