Government announcement to increase minimum sentencing for domestic murders is ill thought out and will have unintended consequences particularly for victims who kill their abuser
Individuals who kill their partner or ex-partner in the home may become subject to a higher baseline starting point for sentencing, under new plans announced on 29 June by the Ministry of Justice.
Stacey Hyde case featured in Channel 4’s ‘The Accused: Beyond Reasonable Doubt’, 25 June, 10pm
Stacey Hyde’s case will be featured in the new Channel 4 series The Accused: Beyond Reasonable Doubt, airing at 10pm on Thursday 25 June. The episode tells the story of Stacey, who was just 17 when, in 2009, she stabbed and killed Vince Francis during a violent incident in which she said she was acting in defence of herself and her friend. She was convicted of murder in March 2010.
Support Lisa Ellwood's appeal
Lisa Ellwood is serving a life sentence for murder – after a life marked by abuse, severe mental ill-health, and a trial in which the jury were denied the benefit of psychological opinion evidence. Her appeal will be heard on 26 June 2026.
ITV Drama, ‘Believe Me’ tells the story of the legal battle by two survivors to hold the police and parole board to account
ITV’s four‑part drama Believe Me, which airs from 10 May, is the true crime story of the legal battle fought by two survivors of serial rapist taxi driver, John Worboys to hold the police accountable for the failures in their investigation which led to well over 100 women being attacked before he was brought to justice.
CWJ Intersectionality Statement
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
Diversity Data
Complaints Handling Policy
CWJ Anti-Racism Strategy
CWJ Anti-racism Statement
Mentoring Scheme
Criminalisation
Through our Stop Criminalising Survivors project, we are working with women with lived experience of domestic abuse and the criminal justice system to press for reforms in law and practice, to end the unjust criminalisation of victims of gender-based violence.
Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse
Why the government’s ‘earned settlement’ proposals fail victim-survivors of violence against women and girls
The government’s sweeping proposals on ‘earned settlement’, set out in a consultation paper in November 2025, aim to make it harder for migrant people to settle permanently in the UK.
Survivor of abuse by MI5 agent wins damages settlement
The Director General of MI5 has apologised to a woman who was victimised by a neo-Nazi informant while he was working for the Security Service.
Government must act on Women’s Justice Board recommendation to provide effective defences for victims of domestic abuse who are accused of offending
We welcome the government’s announcement of new funding for women’s specialist services, and the Women’s Justice Board’s report and recommendations for reducing women’s imprisonment.
11 years’ imprisonment for ‘therapist’ sexual abuser after case initially closed by police
On 12 March at Lewes Crown Court Gerald Peck was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment for sexual offences and has been ordered to pay the survivor £10,000 to cover the cost of the therapy she has since needed.
Centre for Women’s Justice welcomes national Independent Legal Advice service for rape survivors and extension of ‘Operation Soteria’ to the court
The Ministry of Justice has announced their long-awaited plans to fund an independent legal advice service for victim-survivors of rape.
The legacy of Sarah Everard – Five years on 3 March 2026: A national conversation on Violence against Women and Girls, but slow pace of change
As we remember the horrendous events and revelations that followed the disappearance of Sarah Everard, five years ago today, Centre for Women’s Justice reflects on the changes that have been made to policing and the government response to violence against women and girls.
Comment on Jane Andrews case, ‘The Lady’
In anticipation of ITV’s new drama series ‘The Lady’ said to portray the ‘true crime story’ of a ‘rags to riches’ Royal aide of Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York, Harriet Wistrich, CEO of Centre for Women’s Justice, who represented Jane Andrews at her appeal in 2003, comments