Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central, celebrates campaign win for domestic abuse survivors

Emily Darlington MP shared a letter from Justice Minister Sarah Sackman announcing that her campaign to scrap the £318 fee for a ‘person at risk of violence’ order has been heard, and that the government will scrap the fee in November.

“I’m so proud that this campaign has succeeded. The safety of survivors should never come with a financial cost”, said Emily Darlington MP. “This is the kind of real-life change that we can make with a government that is committed to tackling domestic abuse in all its forms. Huge thank you to the Minister, and to Money Wellness for campaigning so hard for the safety of survivors.”

The Justice Minister Sarah Sackman wrote to the Milton Keynes Central MP, “Thank you for hosting the insightful round table in April and for your continued advocacy on this issue. Your engagement has helped to highlight the real-world impact of these fees, and this legislation reflects our shared commitment to remove such obstacles for victims.”

Survivors of domestic abuse who are in debt when they leave their abuser have had to pay £318 to keep their address from being added to a public register when they’re looking for an insolvency solution, putting themselves at risk of a violent ex-partner finding out where they live.

Adam Rolfe, Policy and Public Affairs Officer at Money Wellness, said:

“We are absolutely delighted the government has listened and taken action to scrap the PARV order fee. This change will make a real difference to survivors of abuse, many of whom face impossible choices between protecting their safety and dealing with their debts.

“No one should have to pay to stay safe. Removing this fee means thousands of people each year will be able to rebuild their lives without fear of being found by their abuser.

“We are proud to have worked alongside Emily Darlington MP and other campaigners to shine a light on this injustice, and we will continue to push for wider reforms to ensure the insolvency system protects, rather than penalises, the most vulnerable.”