5 General approach
29. We endorse the general approach in both draft
guidelines. We welcome in particular the explicit recognition
that courts should treat domestic violence no less seriously than
other cases of violent crime. Our evidence indicates that there
is an increasing consensus on the desirability of more special
domestic violence courts, independent advocates, and training.
We note that there is also some support in some circumstances
for accredited specialised perpetrators' programmes. We welcome
this, and note that as they develop, these initiatives will inevitably
affect sentencing decisions. The new Custody Plus sentence, scheduled
to be introduced on 6 November 2006, may also prove popular with
sentencers in domestic violence cases.
30. In the paragraphs that follow we explore a number
of specific issues arising from two draft guidelines.
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