From November, survivors of domestic abuse and violence will no longer have to pay more than £300 to keep their personal details hidden from public records.
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the £318 fee for a Person at Risk of Violence (PARV) Order will be scrapped. This change means vulnerable individuals, including those going through debt proceedings, can now have their name and address removed from the Insolvency Register and the Gazette—without facing financial barriers to their safety.
For many survivors, especially women fleeing abusive partners, the fear that their abuser could trace them through public records has been a constant source of anxiety. Until now, the cost of applying for this protection has put it out of reach for some of the people who need it most.
Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC, said:
“Women who experience domestic abuse can spend their lives on the run. They deserve protection. The publication of victims’ personal details on the Insolvency Register must not be another tool perpetrators can use to torment their victims.
This simple change can be the difference between a life of peace and one of fear. I hope that abolishing this fee gives some degree of relief to the people who need it.
As part of our Plan for Change, we are determined to protect more victims from abuse and halve Violence Against Women and Girls in the next decade”.
The fee removal is part of the government’s wider Plan for Change, which aims to halve violence against women and girls within the next decade and rebuild trust in the justice system.
This move adds to a growing list of measures to protect victims and strengthen prevention efforts, including:
- Establishing a National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection
- Introducing Raneem’s Law, which places domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms to improve how police respond to abuse
- Rolling out Domestic Abuse Protection Orders– the most robust tool yet to keep victims safe from perpetrators
By removing the PARV fee, the government hopes to ensure that no survivor has to choose between financial hardship and personal safety.
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.
We commend Money Wellness for their work in securing this vital change but it does not stop here. SEA will continue to advocate for systemic changes that tackle economic abuse at the root and ensure victim-survivors are better protected”.
Adam Rolfe, Policy and Public Affairs Officer at Money Wellness, said:
“We are delighted the government has listened to our campaign and taken this important step to protect survivors of abuse. Scrapping the PARV order fee removes a huge financial barrier for people already facing unimaginable hardship. It means survivors can focus on rebuilding their finances and moving forward without the fear that seeking debt help could put them at risk.
We now hope to build on this progress to make sure the entire insolvency system truly supports people to recover from an abusive relationship safely and with dignity”. Photo by morebyless, Wikimedia commons.