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Alison Saunders has been Director of Public Prosecutions since the beginning of November. She took over the high profile role leading the Crown Prosecution Service from outgoing DPP, Keir Starmer. With a fall in recorded crimes committed against women in England and Wales and an increase in convictions for rape prosecutions and domestic violence, how will she build on her predecessor’s success? And how close is she to announcing Britain’s first prosecution for FGM?

How well does the criminal justice system deal with women who have been subjected to domestic or sexual violence? This week an all-party group of MPs has begun taking evidence. Among the issues the Justice for Women inquiry will be hearing about are barriers to disclosing abuse, the role of the police, and guidelines on sentencing in cases where there is a conviction. Jane is joined by Labour MP Bridget Phillipson, secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Domestic and Sexual Violence.

Changes to the civil legal aid system were introduced in April this year which means that there are now fewer cases for which people can get funding.Ìý These include private family law such as divorce and custody battles and personal injury cases. People who experience domestic violence can still apply for legal aid to help with the cost of legal advice and court proceedings, but must provide evidence to prove it. Tamsin Smith speaks to one woman who suffered years of domestic abuse and after one particularly violent incident was advised to leave the family home with her children to seek safety in a refuge. She describes her experience of trying to provide evidence in order to access legal aid.

Family lawyers’ representative on the Law Society council Christina Blacklaws, who’s also Head of Policy at the Co-operative Legal Services, is joined by Polly Neate, chief executive of Women’s Aid, to assess the impact of the changes on women’s access to justice. What evidence needs to be provided in order to qualify for legal aid, and what’s been the wider experience of women so far?

While cutting the legal aid bill for England and Wales, the government said it was targeting resources at those most in need. Since April some family law cases, including those involving domestic violence, have continued to qualify for funding providing certain criteria are met. Is Lord McNally satisfied that the safeguards built into new law are working?

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