New figures reveal the number of claims of assault in the home have nearly doubled in some areas since funding for divorce cases was removed (stock)

Allegations of domestic violence have rocketed over the past two years as a result of government changes to the legal aid system, MPs claimed last night.

New figures reveal that the number of claims of assault in the home have nearly doubled in some areas since Ministers removed all taxpayer funding for divorce cases – except in cases involving verbal or physical abuse.

Campaigners believe the reform introduced in 2013 has encouraged separating couples to make false or exaggerated claims of violence against a partner in order to avoid paying for the cost of a divorce, prompting miscarriages of justice that lead to parents being unfairly estranged from their children.

According to figures released by the Ministry of Justice under Freedom of Information rules, the number of non-molestation orders issued by the courts to protect people from harassment, intimidation or violence has increased by 21 per cent, from 4,925 to 6,101, between 2012 and 2014 in England and Wales.

But in some areas the rise was even higher – there was a 92 per cent increase in the Midlands over the past two years.

Family campaigners fear this has happened because solicitors in certain areas have been encouraging clients to make claims of abuse.

Separately, police say there has been a 31 per cent increase in the number of domestic abuse-related crimes recorded in England and Wales between 2013 and 2015 – from 269,700 in the year to August 2013, to 353,100 in the year to March 2015. Forces say they are on the verge of being ‘overwhelmed’ by the ‘staggering’ increases.

Last night, Tory MP Andrew Bridgen claimed that the legal aid changes had led to people – usually men – being falsely accused of abuse.

He said: ‘It is obvious that making domestic abuse the gateway for legal aid has caused an explosion in the number of allegations of domestic abuse, many of which may be baseless and made simply to secure legal aid.

‘Domestic violence, of which both men and women are victims, must be taken seriously, but the rise in the number of non-molestation orders is alarming.’

The legal aid changes, designed to cut the £2 billion annual legal aid bill in England and Wales by £350 million a year, were controversial at the time.

The measure was defeated 14 times in the House of Lords before it was finally passed, amid concerns that the changes would deny justice to the poorest in society.

The Ministry of Justice said: ‘We have seen no concrete evidence that our legal aid arrangements have caused any increase in applications for such orders.’

David Gale, of Kids For Cash UK, a family justice campaign group, said: ‘The indications are that a number of large law firms have encouraged false claims of domestic violence for the purposes of fraudulently securing legal aid.

‘It’s time now for the police to be instructed to properly investigate evidenced cases of perjury in the family court.’