February has seen the completion of the Committee Stage of the Domestic Abuse Bill in the House of Lords.

Key amendments proposed by peers this month included those raised to:

• give powers of entry to registered social workers where there is suspected abuse of adults at risk
• place a duty on Local Authorities to report suspected abuse when they conduct financial assessments for adult social care
• make sure that controlling or coercive behaviour carried out by a relative, is an offense irrespective of if the relative lives with the victim
• clarify certain wording contained within the Bill.

The Domestic Abuse Bill will now move to the report stage, which gives all members of the Lords a further opportunity to examine and make amendments to the Bill.