Help our campaign Become a member Be a councillor
From next month, survivors of violence and domestic abuse will no longer have to pay over £300 to ensure their abuser cannot track them down via public records.
The move will see fees charged for ‘Person at Risk of Violence Order’ scrapped, removing costs as a barrier to safety and protect survivors facing debt and financial hardship
Councillor Vida Wilson, (Conservative, Moreton West & Saughall Massie) said: “Victims of domestic violence will have one less hurdle from next month. It is ludicrous that victims had to pay in order to protect themselves and their families from the dangers of their personal details being published by the state.
“For people fleeing domestic abuse, having the peace of mind that their abuser can’t search public records to find their new address is invaluable – yet the steep cost is a barrier to many. This announcement will mean this cost will no longer be an obstacle to their safety.”
When someone applies for an insolvency debt solution, such as bankruptcy, a debt relief order, or an individual voluntary arrangement, their name and address are published on the Insolvency Register as a statutory requirement.
A PARV Order is the only legal route to prevent personal details from being published.
Individuals must demonstrate that disclosure of their address would reasonably expect to lead to violence. Currently, to apply for a PARV Order, individuals must complete an application form which is accompanied by a witness statement, attend court, and paying the applicable court fee. They do not have to prove that they have experienced violence, only that they reasonably believe they may.
Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse said: “We welcome the government’s decision to abolish the fee for Persons at Risk of Violence Orders when applying for insolvency solutions.
“Until now, survivors have been forced to pay extra just to stay safe and avoid having their names and addresses published on a public insolvency database. This blocked many from accessing vital insolvency options because the perpetrator’s economic abuse left them unable to afford the fee. Removing this cost is an important step towards ensuring survivors can seek protection without taking on yet more financial burden when trying to resolve coerced debts.”
