# Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015

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# Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015

# 2015 anaw 3

An Act of the National Assembly for Wales to improve arrangements for the prevention of gender-based violence, domestic abuse                        and sexual violence; to improve arrangements for the protection of victims of such abuse and violence; to improve support                        for people affected by such abuse and violence; and to require the appointment of a National Adviser on gender-based violence,                        domestic abuse and sexual violence.                     

[29 April 2015]

**Having been passed by the National Assembly for Wales and having received the assent of Her Majesty, it is enacted as follows:**                        

## IntroductionE+W

### 1The purpose of this ActE+W

(1)The purpose of this Act is to improve—                  

(a)arrangements for the prevention of gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence;                  

(b)arrangements for the protection of victims of gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence;                  

(c)support for people affected by gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence.                  

(2)See section 24 for the definitions of “gender-based violence”, “domestic abuse” and “sexual violence”.                  

### 2Violence against women and girlsE+W

(1)A person exercising relevant functions must have regard (along with all other relevant matters) to the need to remove or minimise                        any factors which—                  

(a)increase the risk of violence against women and girls, or                  

(b)exacerbate the impact of such violence on victims.                  

(2) In this section—                  
          -  “relevant functions” (“*swyddogaethau perthnasol*”) means the functions under sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7(2), 8, 10, 11, 15, 16(1), 17, 19, 20, 21, 22(1) and (4), but it does not                           include any functions exercisable under section 5 by a person who is neither a local authority nor a Local Health Board;                         
          -  “violence against women and girls” (“*trais yn erbyn menywod a merched*”) means gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence where the victim is female.                         

## National strategyE+W

### 3Duty to prepare, publish and review a national strategyE+W

(1)The Welsh Ministers must prepare and publish a strategy (a “national strategy”) which—                  

(a)specifies objectives that the Welsh Ministers consider will, if achieved, contribute to the pursuit of the purpose of this                        Act;                  

(b)specifies the periods of time within which the Welsh Ministers expect to achieve the specified objectives;                  

(c)identifies the actions the Welsh Ministers propose to take to achieve the specified objectives.                  

(2)The Welsh Ministers may specify objectives relating to Wales or any part of Wales.                  

(3)The first national strategy must be published no later than 6 months after the date on which the first general election is                        held following the commencement of this section.                  

(4)No later than 6 months after the date of each subsequent general election, the Welsh Ministers must review the national strategy.                  

(5)The Welsh Ministers may review the national strategy at any other time.                  

(6)If the Welsh Ministers decide to revise the national strategy following a review, they must publish the revised strategy as                        soon as is reasonably practicable.                  

(7)The Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate before—                  

(a)publishing the first national strategy under this section;                  

(b)revising the national strategy.                  

(8)In this section, “general election” means—                  

(a)the poll held at an ordinary general election under section 3 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c.32), or                  

(b)the poll held at an extraordinary general election under section 5 of that Act.                  

### 4Duty to implement the national strategyE+W

The Welsh Ministers must, in exercising their functions, take all reasonable steps to achieve the objectives specified in                     the most recently published national strategy.                  

## Local strategiesE+W

### 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                  

### 6Publication and review of local strategiesE+W

### 7Matters to which regard must be had in preparing or reviewing a local strategyE+W

### 8Duty to implement local strategiesE+W

## EducationE+W

### 9Information about educational provision to promote the purpose of this ActE+W

### 10Guidance to further and higher education institutionsE+W

## Measuring performance towards achieving the purpose of this ActE+W

### 11National indicatorsE+W

### 12Annual progress reports by the Welsh MinistersE+W

### 13Annual progress reports by local authorities and Local Health BoardsE+W

## Guidance and directions in relation to the purpose of this ActE+W

### 14Meaning of “relevant authority”E+W

In this Act, “relevant authority” means—                  

(a)a local authority;                  

(b)a Local Health Board;                  

(c)a fire and rescue authority in Wales constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c.21),                        or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies;                  

(d)a National Health Service trust established under section 18 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c.42).                  

### 15Power to issue statutory guidanceE+W

(1)The Welsh Ministers may issue guidance to a relevant authority on how the authority should exercise its functions with a view                        to contributing to the pursuit of the purpose of this Act (“statutory guidance”).                  

(2)The statutory guidance may, amongst other things, address—                  

(a)steps an authority may take to increase awareness of, or change attitudes in relation to, gender-based violence, domestic                        abuse and sexual violence (for example, by designating a member of staff for that purpose or undertaking or assisting with                        a programme of public education);                  

(b)the commissioning by relevant authorities of specialist advice or other assistance relating to gender-based violence, domestic                        abuse or sexual violence;                  

(c)the circumstances in which it is appropriate for persons acting on behalf of a relevant authority to ask a person if he or                        she is suffering or at risk of gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence;                  

(d)the action that is appropriate where a person acting on behalf of a relevant authority has reason to suspect that a person                        is suffering or at risk of gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence;                  

(e)workplace policies to promote the well-being of employees of relevant authorities who may be affected by gender-based violence,                        domestic abuse and sexual violence;                  

(f)training for the members and staff of a relevant authority;                  

(g)the sharing of information between relevant authorities or by a relevant authority with another person;                  

(h)co-operation between relevant authorities or between a relevant authority and other persons.                  

(3)The Welsh Ministers—                  

(a)may issue statutory guidance to relevant authorities generally or to one or more particular authorities;                  

(b)may issue different statutory guidance to different relevant authorities;                  

(c)may revise or revoke statutory guidance by further guidance;                  

(d)may revoke statutory guidance by issuing a notice to the relevant authority to which it is directed.                  

(4)The Welsh Ministers must ensure that statutory guidance, or a notice revoking such guidance, states—                  

(a)that it is issued under this section, and                  

(b)the date on which it is to take effect.                  

(5)The Welsh Ministers must arrange for statutory guidance, or a notice revoking such guidance, to be published.                  

### 16Consultation and National Assembly for Wales proceduresE+W

(1)Before issuing or revising statutory guidance, the Welsh Ministers must consult such persons as they consider appropriate                        on a draft of the guidance.                  

(2)If the Welsh Ministers wish to proceed with the draft (with or without modifications) they must lay a copy of the draft before                        the National Assembly for Wales.                  

(3)If, before the end of the 40 day period, the National Assembly resolves not to approve the draft of the guidance, the Welsh                        Ministers must not issue it in the form of that draft.                  

(4)If no such resolution is made before the end of that period, the Welsh Ministers must issue the guidance (or revised guidance)                        in the form of the draft.                  

(5)The 40 day period—                  

(a)begins on the day on which the draft is laid before the National Assembly, and                  

(b)does not include any time during which the National Assembly is dissolved or is in recess for more than four days.                  

(6)Subsection (3) does not prevent a new draft of proposed guidance or proposed revised guidance from being laid before the National                        Assembly.                  

### 17Duty to follow statutory guidanceE+W

(1)A relevant authority must follow the course set out in guidance issued to it in accordance with this Act when exercising a                        power or duty (including a power or duty that is contingent upon the opinion of the authority concerned); but this is subject                        to the following provisions of this section.                  

(2)A relevant authority is not subject to the duty under subsection (1) so far as—                  

(a)the authority concerned thinks there is good reason for it not to follow the guidance in particular categories of case or                        at all,                  

(b)it decides on an alternative policy for the exercise of its functions in respect of the subject matter of the guidance, and                  

(c)a policy statement issued by the authority in accordance with section 18 is in effect.                  

(3)Where subsection (2) applies in the case of an authority to which this section applies, the authority—                  

(a)must follow the course set out in the policy statement, and                  

(b)is subject to the duty under subsection (1) only so far as the subject matter of the guidance is not displaced by the policy                        statement.                  

(4)The duties in subsections (1) and (3) do not apply to a relevant authority so far as it would be unreasonable for the authority                        to follow the statutory guidance or policy statement in a particular case or category of case.                  

### 18Policy statements: requirements and ancillary powersE+W

(1)A policy statement issued under section 17(2) must set out—                  

(a)how the relevant authority proposes that functions should be exercised differently from the course set out in the statutory                        guidance, and                  

(b)the authority's reasons for proposing that different course.                  

(2)An authority that has issued a policy statement may—                  

(a)issue a revised policy statement;                  

(b)give notice revoking a policy statement.                  

(3)A policy statement (or revised statement) must state—                  

(a)that it is issued under section 17(2), and                  

(b)the date on which it is to take effect.                  

(4)The authority that issues a policy statement (or revised statement), or gives a notice under subsection (2)(b), must—                  

(a)arrange for a statement or notice to be published;                  

(b)send a copy of any statement or notice to the Welsh Ministers.                  

### 19DirectionsE+W

(1)Subsection (2) applies if, in relation to a policy statement issued by a relevant authority, the Welsh Ministers consider                        that the authority's alternative policy for the exercise of functions (in whole or in part) is not likely to contribute to                        the pursuit of the purpose of this Act.                  

(2)The Welsh Ministers may direct the relevant authority to take any action which the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate for                        the purpose of securing the exercise of functions by the authority in accordance with the statutory guidance issued to the                        authority in accordance with this Act.                  

(3)A relevant authority subject to a direction under this section must comply with it; this includes a direction to exercise                        a power or duty that is contingent upon the opinion of the relevant authority.                  

(4)A direction under this section—                  

(a)must be given in writing;                  

(b)may be varied or revoked by a later direction;                  

(c)is enforceable by mandatory order on application by, or on behalf of, the Welsh Ministers.                  

## National AdviserE+W

### 20National AdviserE+W

### 21Functions of the AdviserE+W

### 22Annual plan and annual reportsE+W

### 23Publication of reportsE+W

## GeneralE+W

### 24InterpretationE+W

(1)In this Act—                  
          -  “abuse” (“*cam-drin*”) means physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse;                         
          -  “domestic abuse” (“*cam-drin domestig*”) means abuse where the victim of it is or has been associated with the abuser;                         
          -  “financial year” (“*blwyddyn ariannol*”) means a period of 12 months ending on 31 March;                         
          -  “gender-based violence” (“*trais ar sail rhywedd*”) means—                          (a)
violence, threats of violence or harassment arising directly or indirectly from values, beliefs or customs relating to gender                                    or sexual orientation;                                 
(b)
female genital mutilation;
(c)
forcing a person (whether by physical force or coercion by threats or other psychological means) to enter into a religious                                    or civil ceremony of marriage (whether or not legally binding);                                 
 
          -  “local authority” (“*awdurdod lleol*”) means the council of a county or county borough in Wales;                         
          -  “Local Health Board” (“*Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol*”) means a Local Health Board established under section 11 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (c.42);                         
          -  “purpose of this Act” (“*diben y Ddeddf hon*”) means the purpose in section 1;                         
          -  “relevant authority” (“*awdurdod perthnasol*”) has the meaning given by section 14;                         
          -  “sexual violence” (“*trais rhywiol*”) means sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, or threats of violence of a sexual nature;                         
          -  “statutory guidance” (“*canllawiau statudol*”) means guidance under section 15.                         

(2)A person is associated with another person for the purpose of the definition of “domestic abuse” in subsection (1) if—                  

(a)they are or have been married to each other;                  

(b)they are or have been civil partners of each other;                  

(c)they live or have lived together in an enduring family relationship (whether they are of different sexes or the same sex);                  

(d)they live or have lived in the same household; and for this purpose a person is a member of another person's household if—                  

(i)the person normally lives with the other person as a member of his or her family, or                  

(ii)the person might reasonably be expected to live with that other person;                  

(e)they are relatives;                  

(f)they have agreed to marry one another (whether or not that agreement has been terminated);                  

(g)they have entered into a civil partnership agreement between them (whether or not that agreement has been terminated);                  

(h)they have or have had an intimate personal relationship with each other;                  

(i)in relation to a child, each of them is a parent of the child or has, or has had, parental responsibility for the child.                  

(3)If a child has been adopted or falls within subsection (4), two persons are also associated with each other for the purposes                        of the definition of “domestic abuse” in subsection (1) if—                  

(a)one is a natural parent of the child or a parent of such a natural parent, and                  

(b)the other is—                  

(i)the child, or                  

(ii)a person who has become a parent of the child by virtue of an adoption order, who has applied for an adoption order or with                        whom the child has at any time been placed for adoption.                  

(4)A child falls within this subsection if—                  

(a)an adoption agency, within the meaning of section 2 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c.38), is authorised to place the                        child for adoption under section 19 of that Act (placing children with parental consent) or the child has become the subject                        of an order under section 21 of that Act (placement orders), or                  

(b)the child is freed for adoption by virtue of an order made—                  

(i)in England and Wales, under section 18 of the Adoption Act 1976 (c.36), or                  

(ii)in Northern Ireland, under Article 17(1) or 18(1) of the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987/2203), or                  

(c)the child is the subject of a Scottish permanence order which includes granting authority to adopt.                  

(5)In this section—                  
          -  “adoption order” (“*gorchymyn mabwysiadu*”) means an adoption order within the meaning of section 72(1) of the Adoption Act 1976 or section 46(1) of the Adoption and                           Children Act 2002;                         
          -  “child” (“*plentyn*”) means a person under the age of 18 years;                         
          -  “civil partnership agreement” (“*cytundeb partneriaeth sifil*”) has the meaning given by section 73 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c.33);                         
          -  “female genital mutilation” (“*anffurfio organau cenhedlu benywod*”) means an act that is an offence under sections 1, 2 or 3 of the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 (c.31);                         
          -  “financial abuse” (“*cam-drin ariannol*”) means—                          (a)
having money or other property stolen,
(b)
being defrauded,
(c)
being put under pressure in relation to money or other property, and
(d)
having money or other property misused;
 
          -  “harassment” (“*aflonyddu*”) means a course of conduct by a person which he or she knows or ought to know amounts to harassment of the other; and for                           the purpose of this definition—                          (a)
a person ought to know that his or her conduct amounts to or involves harassment if a reasonable person in possession of the                                    same information would think the course of conduct amounted to or involved harassment of another person, and                                 
(b)
“conduct” includes speech;                                 
 
          -  “sexual exploitation” (“*camfanteisio rhywiol*”) means something that is done to or in respect of a person which—                          (a)
involves the commission of an offence under Part 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c.42), as it has an effect in England                                    and Wales, or                                 
(b)
would involve the commission of such an offence if it were done in England and Wales;
 
          -  “parental responsibility” (“*cyfrifoldeb rhiant*”) has the meaning given by section 3 of the Children Act 1989 (c.41);                         
          -  “relative” (“*perthynas*”), in relation to a person, means that person's parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, half-brother, sister, half-sister,                           uncle, aunt, nephew, niece (including any person who is or has been in that relationship by virtue of a marriage or civil                           partnership or an enduring family relationship).                         

### 25CommencementE+W

(1)The following provisions come into force on the day this Act receives Royal Assent—                  
          -  section 1; 
          -  section 24; 
          -  this section; 
          -  section 26. 

(2)Section 10 and sections 14 to 21 come into force two months after the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent.                  

(3)The remaining provisions of this Act come into force on a day appointed by the Welsh Ministers in an order made by statutory                        instrument.                  

(4)An order under subsection (3) may—                  

(a)appoint different days for different purposes;                  

(b)include such transitory or transitional provision as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.                  

### 26Short titleE+W

The short title of this Act is the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015.