Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said it was another example of the criminal justice system failing to understand violence against women and girls.
The six-month time limit is meant to keep the criminal justice system moving - but campaigners are calling for it to be extended to two years in instances of domestic violence. "To me, six months isn't enough time to even fathom that sort of experience and allow someone to get the support they need before coming forward.
Figures obtained by the BBC using Freedom of Information show that from 2016/17 to 2020/21 in England and Wales there were at least 12,982 cases of common assault that were flagged as involving domestic abuse in which no-one was charged due to the time limit. Between 2016-17 and 2020-21 the total number of common assaults flagged as instances of domestic abuse increased by 71% from 99,134 to 170,013.
"We have invested millions into vital services to support victims throughout the pandemic, and continue to urge anyone at risk of harm to come forward and get the help they need.
The worst outcome for many women is that many of them also lose their children. For too long they are treated as the problem Sadly in my experience over many years. The violent men have the support of social workers.
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