Covid-19 Inquiry: Liz Davies KC delivers closing statement for Module 2

https://youtu.be/WIwS5ynxPr8?si=9eNOY1i-aWCrzL2rLiz Davies KC, instructed by the Public Interest Law Centre, delivering a closing statement.

On 13 December 2023, Liz Davies KC instructed by PILC made oral closing submissions for Module 2 of the Covid Inquiry on behalf of Southall Black Sisters and Solace Women’s Aid.

We say that the rise in domestic abuse during the pandemic was as a direct result of the public health measures implemented and imposed by Government. We set out what the Government failed to do and what it could have done to make a significant different to survivors of domestic abuse who were stuck in unsafe homes. We said that there were four main failures:

1. Failure to be prepared well in advance of lockdown;
2. Failure to disseminate proper clear messaging;
3. Failure to consider an exception to the regulations that would have allowed people to provide a safe place to those fleeing domestic abuse;
4. A refusal to suspend the No Recourse to Public Funds condition leading to a triple threat of covid, domestic abuse and destitution; and
5. A failure to learn lessons from the first lockdown when it came to he second and third lockdowns.

See press coverage in Open Democracy here