National register for abusive partners will not cover gay relationships

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Government plans for a new consultation on domestic violence will not cover abuse in same-sex relationships or violence suffered by men.

In 2007, 142 people died in domestic attacks, including 38 men.

One proposal is a national register containing the details of abusive partners is at the forefront of a new government consultation to tackle domestic violence.

The proposed register would allow potential future victims to be warned of a person’s abusive history and police could also be given powers to ban offenders from the family home for a fortnight.

It is one of a number of methods being considered by the government, which is setting out a consultation document to be unveiled today.

Other plans include a review into police powers for dealing with serial perpetrators of domestic violence and a review of the sexualisation of teenage girls.

Home secretary Jacqui Smith said: “Violence against women and girls is unacceptable in any form.

“We have already made real progress, with domestic violence incidents more than halving in the past 12 years. But I want to start a national debate on what more we can do to prevent it and on challenging attitudes which condone it.”

However, the proposals were attacked by Sandra Horley, chief executive of women’s charity Refuge, who said that government action so far had been “piecemeal” and condemned plans for the database of serial domestic abusers.

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