Theresa May has called on police to randomly visit known perpetrators of domestic violence to help victims during coronavirus lockdown.
The former Prime Minister spoke during a debate on her long-delayed Domestic Abuse Bill, which finally had its second reading in the House of Commons today.
The bill was repeatedly delayed in its progress through parliament by breaks in parliament sittings over Brexit, but was expected to pass unopposed.
It comes amid a spike in domestic abuse during the coronavirus lockdown.
Victims Commissioner Dame Vera Baird told the Commons Justice Committee: "Calls to the helplines have rocketed, complaints to the police have not gone up commensurately but complaints to victims' services clearly have.
"There are real worries about access to any help if you are locked down with the perpetrator in the next room."
“The figures are clear. Domestic abuse increases during lockdown,” Mrs May told MPs via video link.
She said the bill would not only improve lives “it will save lives.”
She recognised lockdown rules allow victims to leave home to escape or report domestic abuse.
But, Mrs May said: “What we must also recognise is that it is much harder for them to leave. It is much harder for them to report domestic abuse, because perpetrators have been given greater control of them in the lockdown situation.
“Because they've got greater control of them in the lockdown situation. They can take their mobiles away. They can stop them walking out of that front door.”
Mrs May urged police chiefs to look at 'random contact' procedures implemented in New York City, where officers visit people who have previously reported domestic violence.
She said: “I would urge police officers and local authorities to look at the experience of the New York Police Department in the past and consider as I know some already are, the random contact or visiting of homes where there are known perpetrators or reports of domestic violence.
“It must be done carefully to ensure it does not exacerbate a situation. But it can help those victims.”
Mrs May said said: "This Bill is an incredibly important opportunity for us to ensure that we improve the legislative environment for dealing with domestic abuse, that we improve by doing that the response of government and other agencies.
"If we get it right, it will not only improve people's lives, it will save lives."
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the Domestic Violence Commissioner will now work four days a week rather than three.
The new domestic violence commissioner will now work four days a week, rather than three.
Mr Buckland said he had listened to arguments from MPs that the post should not be "part-time".
He added: "I know that at the last second reading a number of honourable members argued for the post to be a full-time one and we've reviewed with Nicole Jacobs the appropriate time commitment for the role, and I've now extended it from three to four days a weeks."
Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman for the Bill to end the so-called "rough sex" defence, where perpetrators can avoid murder charges by claiming death was caused by a “sex game gone wrong”.
Mr Buckland said the Government hopes to present a solution to MPs by the report stage of the Bill.
Earlier, Safeguarding Minister Victoria Atkins told the BBC the bill “introduces new powers, protective orders, and changes various measures in courts to help protect victims."
She added: "We are working with refuge providers to have plans for any impacts that Covid-19 will have on refuge places.
"But in the Bill we're trying to change the conversation. So it's not just about her leaving the perpetrator, but also about stopping the perpetrator's behaviour in the first place.
"I would also like for us to be looking at perhaps kicking the perpetrator out rather than the victim so that she stays in her home safely... and the perpetrator has his behaviour addressed to stop this cycle of abuse."
