She continued: “To the shame of our government, as it stands, the bill still leaves migrant women stranded and doesn’t guarantee statutory funding for domestic abuse services. The opportunity was also missed to create a register for repeat perpetrators.

“In the four years since the bill was first promised, millions of lives have been ruined by or lost to domestic abuse. We must keep the pressure up to protect the most marginalised and address the inequality that causes and perpetuates one of the most prevalent crimes in Britain.”

The domestic abuse commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, said:   “Today marks an historic moment for victims and survivors of domestic abuse when change is needed the most.  The act sets out my legal powers, which I will use to support all victims across England and Wales by first tackling the ‘postcode lottery’ of services.  

“So many campaigners, charities and individuals have worked incredibly hard to make the bill as robust as possible and there is no doubt that the legislation, which now includes non-fatal strangulation as a standalone offence, is much stronger as a result. Legislation won’t transform things overnight and we know there is more to do, and so I will work with partners to advocate for further changes.”

Find more information on the domestic abuse bill on the government’s official website.

For more help and support, you can also seek confidential support with Relate or contact Refuge for help and guidance. Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free to call and available 24/7 on 0808 2000 247.

Domestic abuse act: what it actually means for women in the UK