Blackstone's Guide to the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004

Melanie Johnson is a barrister at 1 Pump Court Chambers specialising in Family Law. She conducts seminars in domestic violence remedies and enforcement, and care proceedings. She is a member of the FLBA and has published an article on Domestic Violence and Part IV Family Law Act 1996 in 'The Review', a journal sponsored by the Solicitors Family Law Association.Elizabeth Lawson QC is a barrister at 1 Pump Court Chambers specialising in Family Law and sits as a Deputy High Court Judge. Lindsay Adams is a barrister at 1 Pump Court Chambers. She is head of the Crime Group and practises in the areas of criminal and family law. Along with Melanie Johnson she regularly conducts seminars in domestic violence remedies and enforcement, and care proceedings. Lindsay contributed to the Bar Council and CBA response to the White Paper, Justice for All, which was published in October 2002.Stephen Field is a barrister at 1 Pump Court Chambers. He specialises in criminal law.John Lamb is a barrister at 1 Pump Court Chambers. He was formerly the Head of the Crime Group at New Court Chambers before moving to 1 Pump Court in April 2003. He is a specialist criminal practitioner with extensive experience of sexual offences and violence in a domestic context.

This is the latest title in OUPs well known guide series on new legislation. The book is reasonably priced at £29.95 and includes the full text of the Act. The book clearly benefits from its multi-author approach and sets out each of the new provisions with clarity and authority, stating the authors own views on the impact of the legislation with supporting materials from Hansard and other sources. The authors highlight potential difficulties in interpretation (see para 2.39 for an example), and where possible suggest solutions. A very useful book that will assist lawyers seeking to get to grips with this Act, one that is as yet little understood but which will have a massive impact on the work in criminal courts

• FOREWORD BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD JUSTICE JUDGE ; 1. Introduction ; 2. Changes to the Law on Domestic Violence ; 3. Causing or Allowing the Death of a Child or Vulnerable Adult ; 4. Evidence and Procedure: England and Wales ; 5. Domestic Homicide Reviews ; 6. Assault and Restraining Orders ; 7. Surcharges ; 8. Trial by Jury of Sample Counts Only ; 9. Unfitness to Plead and Insanity ; 10. Miscellaneous ; 11. Victims, Etc ; APPENDIX A - THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CRIME AND VICTIMS ACT 2004 ; APPENDIX B - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE INSANITY ACT 1964 SS 4, 5 AND 5A AS AMENDED ; APPENDIX C - FAMILY LAW ACT 1996, PART IV AS AMENDED ; APPENDIX D - PROTECTION FROM HARASSMENT ACT 1997 SS1 TO 7 AS AMENDED ; APPENDIX E - USEFUL ADDRESSES