GDASS Newsletter November 2025
A monthly update of news, training and opportunities from GDASS.
Spotlight: GDASS and 16 Days of Action: Standing with Every Community
From 25 November to 10 December, GDASS will be taking part in the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign calling for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.
This year, our focus is on increasing engagement with minority and marginalised communities. Domestic abuse affects people from every background, but we know that not everyone has equal access to support. Barriers such as language, culture, immigration status, or fear of discrimination can stop people from seeking help and we want to change that.
Throughout the 16 Days, GDASS will be sharing a series of posts across our social media channels to:
- Highlight how domestic abuse impacts different communities
- Challenge myths and misconceptions
- Share survivor voices and practical routes to support
- Promote inclusive services available in Gloucestershire
We’ll also be partnering with local organisations to amplify community voices and promote safe, accessible pathways to help.
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay involved, share our messages, and help raise awareness. Together, we can make Gloucestershire a place where everyone feels seen, heard, and safe.
Sector News
Better protection for victims as PARV order fees scrapped
From November, survivors of domestic abuse will no longer need to pay over £300 to have their personal details removed from public insolvency records via a Person at Risk of Violence (PARV) Order. This is a welcome step toward reducing “financial gatekeeping” of protection. Read more on GOV.UK here.
Family courts shift: Repealing presumption of parental involvement
The government has announced plans to remove the default presumption that children should have contact with both parents, especially in cases involving abuse. The change is being hailed by campaigners and legal professionals as a long-overdue correction of the “pro-contact culture” in family courts. This gives more room for child welfare to become the central lens (rather than default contact). But culture and mindset change will still lag behind the legal shift. Read more on GOV.UK here.
CPS Rape Scrutiny Report flags challenges in prosecuting rape when domestic abuse is present
The CPS Annual Rape Scrutiny Report (Oct 2025) highlights that in multiple cases, domestic abuse charges had been brought first, and rape charges only added later after further review. The report suggests that time pressures, limited information, and initial investigative constraints may lead to delayed or downgraded charging decisions in complex abuse cases. This signals ongoing challenges at the interface of domestic abuse and sexual offences, and reinforces the need for cross-disciplinary capability and integrity in early investigation phases. Read more on the CPS website.
Research and Resources
‘Everyday Business’: Domestic Abuse Hidden in Plain Sight in Family Courts
This new report presents findings from a pilot of the Family Court Review & Reporting Mechanism (FCRRM), focusing on how private law child arrangements cases handle domestic abuse. The key finding: domestic abuse is present in most family court disputes, yet in many hearings it is either minimised, side-lined or judged irrelevant by courts, despite evidence. The authors expose four entrenched structural barriers: a “pro-contact” default culture, adversarial court processes, limited resources, and siloed working. They also offer recommended good practices, such as trauma-informed procedures, greater accountability, and more consistent data collection, to shift practice toward safety, not just contact. Read the report here.
The Women’s Treatment Working Group launches its Womanifesto
The Women’s Treatment Working Group has launched its “Womanifesto”, calling for a gender-responsive overhaul of drug and alcohol services. It sets out three core demands: compulsory women-only services, better support for mothers (including those fearful of child removal), and the co-design of care pathways in partnership with women and domestic abuse services. Read more here.