Victims of domestic abuse will be better protected from today (3
February) as part of a new law ensuring even more abusers face
tougher management from police and probation.
Offenders convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour, and
sentenced to 12 months or longer, will now be automatically
managed under multi-agency public protection arrangements. This
means agencies are legally required to cooperate to better manage
the risks posed by these serious offenders, recognising the
significant harm this kind of offending can cause.
For the first time, it puts controlling or coercive behaviour on
a par with other domestic abuse offences including threats
to kill, attempted strangulation and stalking.
Evidence shows offenders who are managed under multi-agency
public protection arrangements have a reoffending rate less than
half of the national average
The law change means even more domestic abusers will fall under
this management, in which agencies are legally required to share
any information which indicates increased risk to others, such as
former partners or members of the public.
This is part of the Government's Plan for Change to take back our
streets by protecting women and girls from harassment, aggression
and violence and manifesto commitment to target the most prolific
and harmful perpetrators using methods previously reserved for
terrorist and other violent offenders.
Minister for Prisons and Probation,
Timpson said:
“Domestic abuse creates fear and isolation, and I will do
everything in my power to tackle it and ensure women and girls
feel safe in their homes.
“This new approach will put controlling or coercive behaviour on
a par with physical violence and will help prevent these
despicable crimes.”
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and
Girls, Jess Philips said:
“Domestic abuse devastates lives and affects more than two
million people every year.
“For the first time, under this change to the law, coercive or
controlling behaviour is being placed where it belongs – on a par
with serious violent offending. This is an important step to
recognise the harm caused by all forms of domestic abuse, ensure
the most harmful offenders are managed in the right way, and
ultimately keep victims safe.
“This Government will crack on with our work to deliver a system
that protects victims, supports their journey to justice and
holds perpetrators to account – part of our mission under the
Plan for Change to halve violence against women and girls in a
decade.”
The law change will apply to all offenders who are sentenced to
at least 12 months' imprisonment, including suspended sentences,
or given a hospital order for an offence of controlling or
coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.
It was introduced by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 and was
signed into law after Justice Minister signed a statutory instrument
early this year.
Previously, those convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour
could be actively managed under multi-agency arrangements on a
discretionary basis only.
This measure will put beyond doubt the legal requirement for
agencies to work together to assess and manage the risks posed by
this group of offenders.
Chief Executive of Women's Aid, Farah Nazeer,
said:
“Coercive control is a key tool used by perpetrators of domestic
abuse, as it isolates survivors and makes them dependent
on an abuser.
“Women's Aid welcomes plans to treat coercive and controlling
behaviours seriously, automatically managing those convicted of
this form of abuse under the Multi-Agency Public Protection
Arrangement (MAPPA).
“It is essential that specialist domestic abuse services, with
expertise on abusive behaviours and the impacts on victims
and survivors, are routinely included in the MAPPA
process if survivors are to be properly protected by this
measure.”
This announcement builds on measures already set out by the
Government as part of our mission to halve violence against women
and girls. This includes launching new Domestic Abuse Protection
Orders in select areas to ensure victims of all types of domestic
abuse including coercive control, stalking, and violence can seek
protection and more abusers face harsher restrictions.
Notes to editors:
- Multi-agency public protection arrangements, known as
MAPPA, are the set
of arrangements through which the Police, Probation and Prison
Services work together with other agencies to manage the risks
posed by violent, sexual and terrorist offenders living in the
community to protect the public.
- Research conducted by Anglia Ruskin
University indicates that reoffending rates for individuals
managed under MAPPA are less than half of the national average.
The one-year reoffending rate for MAPPA is 12.2%, while the
national overall one-year reoffending rates range between 30.0%
and 31.3% during a similar timeframe.
