Sentencing plans 'devastating' for abuse victims, says commissioner

Violent partners will be allowed to "return to harassing, stalking and abusing" with impunity under a bill before parliament that is supposed to ease prison overcrowding, a watchdog has warned.

- Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

Nicole Jacobs says the government's sentencing bill will put more abuse survivors 'in harm's way'

(PHOTOGRAPH: JILL MEAD/THE GUARDIAN)

In a letter to the justice secretary, David Lammy, the domestic abuse commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said the sentencing bill's aim to release the vast majority of offenders recalled to prison after 56 days would mean that victims and survivors "will be put in harm's way" and lead to "devastating consequences".