Clause 26 - General functions of Commissioner
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [Lords]
9:10 am
Mrs Marion Roe (Broxbourne, Conservative)
With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Amendment No. 87, in clause 29, page 17, line 8, after '28', insert—
'and section [Domestic Violence Advocacy Service].'.
New clause 30—Domestic Violence Advocacy Service—
'(1) In this section, ''Voluntary organisation'' means a charity or an organisation operating on a not-for-profit basis.
(2) The Secretary of State shall establish, maintain and develop a national service known as the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service for the purpose of promoting the availability to victims of services of the descriptions specified in subsection (3) and, in particular, for securing (within the resources made available, and priorities set, in accordance with subsection (6)) that victims have access to services that effectively meet their needs.
(3) The descriptions of services referred to in subsection (1) are—
(a) the provision of help in developing and implementing a plan for ensuring the safety of the victim and the safety of the children of the victim as a priority;
(b) the provision of general information, relevant to the victim, about the law and legal system and the availability of legal services,
(c) the provision of help by the giving of advice as to how the law applies in the particular circumstances of the victim,
(d) the provision of information as to the availability to the victim of relevant support services offered by other agencies,
(e) the provision of assistance in accessing services relevant to the victim that are offered by other agencies,
(f) the provision of help in relation to legal proceedings, whether in the family, criminal or civil courts.
(4) The services of the descriptions specified in subsection (3) shall be accessible to victims at any hour and on any day and shall be provided by persons of the same sex as the victim where requested by the victim.
(5) The Secretary of State shall establish and maintain a fund known as the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service Fund from which services of the descriptions specified in subsection (3) shall be funded as part of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service.
(6) The Secretary of State shall prepare a code setting out the criteria according to which he will decide how to fund services as part of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service.
(7) When preparing the code referred to in subsection (6) the Secretary of State shall consult all relevant bodies (and, in particular, voluntary organisations) who are able to communicate the views of victims of domestic violence.
(8) The Secretary of State may accredit, or authorise others to accredit, voluntary organisations providing services of the descriptions specified in subsection (3); and any system of accreditation shall include provision for the monitoring of the services provided by accredited organisations and for the withdrawal of accreditation from any providing services of unsatisfactory quality.
(9) The Secretary of State may fund services as part of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service by—
(a) entering into contracts with voluntary organisations for the provision of services by them,
(b) making payments to voluntary organisations in respect of the provision of services by them,
(c) making grants or loans to voluntary organisations to enable them to provide, or facilitate the provision of, services,
(d) establishing and maintaining voluntary organisations to provide, or facilitate the provision of, services,
(e) making grants or loans to individuals to enable them to obtain services,
(f) doing anything else which he considers appropriate for funding services.
(10) The Secretary of State may by order require accredited bodies providing services of the descriptions specified in subsection (3) to discharge those services in accordance with the order.'.