She is co-sponsoring an Early Day Motion raising concerns about low levels of reporting of, and convictions for, domestic abuse.  It calls for a new law, which would make domestic abuse a specific criminal offence for the first time.

Caroline is also supporting a Bill, being published shortly, to put this law in place.   It will be based on laws introduced in parts of the US, which have dramatically increased reporting of abuse and rates of convictions.

In the UK, there is currently no specific criminal offence of domestic abuse.  Instead offenders are prosecuted for crimes such as rape or assault, but in many cases previous abusive behaviour is not taken into account.

The new law would provide a legal framework that would make domestic abuse a specific offence and allow for the examination of an offender's conduct over a period of time, with sentences reflecting whether an offence was part of a pattern of abusive behaviour.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said:

“Domestic abuse is an awful crime, which is depressingly common.

“Last year, an estimated seven per cent of women experienced domestic abuse.  Yet only a quarter of incidents are reported to the police.

“We need radical action to encourage survivors to report abuse, to support them, and to increase rates of conviction.  This Bill would create a legal framework which punishes repetitive patterns of behaviour, encourages women to report, and leads to perpetrators being prosecuted.

“On its own, it won't change things overnight.  For example, we also need to ensure that everyone in the criminal justice system receives better training on how to deal with domestic violence.  But a new law would be one important step that would help.”

In the year ending 31 October 2013, Sussex Police received 17,899 incident calls relating to allegations of domestic abuse, of which 6,097 resulted in specific criminal offences being recorded.

Full text of Early Day Motion,

That this House believes that the level of domestic abuse in the UK is unacceptable, that the number of victims reporting incidents is extremely low and that the number of alleged perpetrators convicted is unsatisfactory; further believes that all criminal justice professionals should receive training on the subject of domestic abuse; and asks the Government to consider introducing a specific law of domestic abuse, which would take into account courses of conduct and repetitive abusive behaviour.