ASK THE QUESTION
By: Magda Devas
Tags: Domestic Violence, Weddings, Routine Enquiry

‘Ask the question’ is a campaign to make domestic violence one of the questions asked at the registry office 1–1 interview for weddings and civil partnerships.

The Law Commission Weddings is doing a Consultation on weddings.

https://consult.justice.gov.uk/law-commission/weddings/consultation/

‘Ask the Question’ has created a model response, below. If you agree with this please use the model response to send to the consultation. And tweet @magdade to let us know that you have sent off a response. Thanks

Model Response

The Weddings Consultation offers an excellent opportunity to consider including a question about domestic abuse in the preliminary 1–1 interview for weddings.

One in four women have experienced domestic abuse from a partner at some point in their lives (ONS Domestic Abuse Statistics, 2018). It is a devastating problem. Repeated acts of violence and abuse can occur across years and even decades. The victims, both partners and their children who witness the abuse, often suffer long-term trauma and reduced life chances.

Opportunities for services to ask about domestic abuse are few and far between. Due to the nature of the problem, partners are rarely alone with someone who can offer them help. The preliminary interview to marriage is therefore an ideal time to ask whether someone is experiencing domestic abuse.

There are several advantages to asking the question at the preliminary interview:

· The formal setting creates an atmosphere of solemnity which allows for reflection.

· Other personal questions are being asked, so the question is not out of place.

· There are already mechanisms and training in place for the person asking the question to be able to offer help if domestic abuse is disclosed.

· Most importantly, at the preliminary interview partners are separated. This provides the safe space people need in order to disclose domestic abuse.

Asking about domestic violence in statutory settings is formally known as Routine Enquiry and has proved effective in maternity units.

However, it takes five times, on average, for an abused partner to seek help before getting an effective response. Asking about domestic violence at the registry office will be a state mandated first response. This will increase the confidence of women to report in the future.

Routine enquiry is a public health response to domestic abuse. Every woman who goes through the registration process will be asked, whether or not she is experiencing domestic abuse. It is therefore educational as well as preventative. Early intervention on domestic violence has been shown to be effective and to save the state substantial amounts of money.

Enquiring about domestic abuse at the registry office should be a government-mandated first ask. The support of the state will send a message that domestic abuse is unacceptable, and that anyone subject to such abuse has the right to help.

We therefore request that the Marriage Act 1949 be changed to include a question about domestic abuse in the registration process for marriages and civil partnerships.

Please e-mail your response to:

weddings@lawcommission.gov.uk