Cuts to legal aid will create a further barrier for women trying to leave violent relationships and could lead to more deaths, the Women?s Institute has warned. The institute published a report, Legal Aid is a Lifeline , this week as the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill returned to the House of Commons for its report stage and third reading. The institute urged the government to amend the bill to provide legal aid to domestic violence victims, and broaden the definition of domestic violence and eligibility criteria. read more