A DOMESTIC violence campaigner has backed a Bolton MP's calls for legal aid to be granted to abuse victims.

Eve Thomas said she is delighted that Bolton North East MP David Crausby has attacked the government for their decision to stop victims of domestic abuse from accessing the funding.

Legal aid can help people meet the costs of legal advice and representation in a court or tribunal but the government have changed the eligibility criteria in order to save money.

The mother-of-two, aged 47, from Astley Bridge, has experienced problems in court herself when she was asked to disclose her 'safe' address in open court in a civil case in August 2013.

Following this she launched her Eve's Law campaign to prevent other victims from going through the same, which has gained support from MPs and crime commissioners across the country.

Ms Thomas said: "I'm so pleased. I'm chuffed to bits. From a personal point of view I'm glad that my MP is standing up for victims of domestic abuse.

"To strangle resources from victims is increasing their vulnerability and exposing them to more risk. When a victim flees or escapes a violent relationship they are at risk. We have to make it easier for domestic abuse victims, not harder."

As part of the changes, the government has excluded all family cases, even where there has been violence or ongoing risk of violence.

Mr Crausby has signed an early day motion in Parliament calling for the government to enable victims of domestic abuse to access legal aid.

He said: "Legal aid is a vital lifeline for many domestic abuse victims. It can be a real struggle to escape an abusive relationship if you don't have confidence that you will have the advice and support that you need, many simply don't have large sums of money to pay for that support.

"I think who we offer help to says a lot about our society, and it is just wrong for this Government to say that we won't help victims of domestic violence to access the legal system."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "This Government is exceptionally clear that victims of domestic violence should get legal aid wherever they need it to help break free from the abusive relationship.

"We have twice made changes so it is easier for people to get the evidence they need to claim legal aid, both during the passage of the Act and again last year.

"Since the reforms were introduced last year thousands of people have successfully applied for legal aid where domestic violence is involved.

"The evidence criteria for domestic abuse cases were brought in precisely because we wanted to ensure victims were still entitled to legal aid when more general family law cases were removed from scope.   

"Evidence is not required where someone applies for legal aid funding to seek protection from domestic violence through something like a non-molestation order.

"We are also continuing to waive the financial eligibility limits in these cases.

"Access to legal aid and the courts for protective injunctions to prevent domestic violence remains identical to that prior to legal aid reforms, and we have also recently scrapped the £75 court application fee for these injunctions to make sure there are no unnecessary barriers between people and the help they need.

"We are listening to the concerns that have been raised with us and that is why we made the further changes in April 2014 so it's easier for people to get the evidence they need to make their legal aid claim.

"This was welcomed by those working with domestic abuse victims and now includes allowing evidence where a person has been refused entry to a refuge because of a lack of accommodation, and evidence that the other party in the case is on police bail pending a charge for a domestic violence offence."