The B.C. government has announced changes aimed at tackling domestic violence, in the wake of a coroner's inquest into a murder-suicide that took the life of a seven-year-old Victoria boy.
Last month, the jury at a coroner's inquest into the murder suicide deaths of the Lee family in Victoria made 14 recommendations.
Solicitor General Kash Heed says the changes will help the courts, support workers, first responders and communities deal with domestic violence through better training, standardized policy and more co-ordination and prevention.
Effective immediately, the government will establish a domestic violence unit in the Greater Victoria area and form a B.C. Coroner's Service death review panel that will work to prevent domestic violence.
The government will also establish standard bail conditions for accused identified as high-risk abusers.
A report late last year by B.C.'s Independent Representative for Children and Youth called for more provincial co-ordination across provincial agencies to fight domestic violence.
