Harman to deliver speech on domestic violence privacy law

Solicitor General Harriet Harman will discuss a new law protecting the identities of domestic violence victims at a conference tomorrow.

Ms Harman, who is the keynote speaker at the Domestic Abuse Regional Conference, in Newmarket, will discuss the new law, which grants courts the power to prevent the press and media from identifying a witness.

Ms Harman said: "We know that in the majority of cases, criminal assaults in the home are not reported by the victim. There are many reasons for this, but one obstacle is the fear that the family's 'dirty linen' will be washed in public. The ability of the courts to hear evidence without reports in the media of the victim's name – or that of her partner – will be one further way to make it easier to bring domestic violence before the courts.

The Solicitor General added: "It is a very important principle that justice must not only be done. All victims should get justice and should not be deterred by the court processes. Open justice must be balanced against the principle of privacy, and against the need to ensure that victims are not deterred from reporting, and supporting, prosecutions."

The Domestic Abuse Regional Conference will be held at the Millennium Stadium in Newmarket Racecourse tomorrow.

It is being hosted by the Legal Services Commission, supported by the Government Office for the East of England, the Law Society and the East of England Regional Assembly, in order to discuss improvements to the services provided for victims of domestic violence.

Delegates including solicitors, police, family mediators and health professionals are all expected to attend the conference, which will include presentations from the Domestic Violence Helpline, the Women's Aid National Office and Essex Police.

(KMcA/SP)