CPS announces children to be classed as domestic abuse victims under guidance

Article summary

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that children affected by domestic abuse will be automatically treated as victims regardless of whether they were present during violent incidents under the ‘Domestic Abuse guidance’. The CPS has said the guidance asks prosecutors to consider the powers available to them regarding Special Measures and the impact domestic abuse has on young people when making a charging decision, including speaking to schools or Child Services to support evidence of long-standing abuse. The CPS has also said there is a new section on 'assumptions and misconceptions' and the 'taking suspect-centric approach' section has updated.