Domestic Abuse
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance the Home Office and the College of Policing have issued to ensure that frontline officers recognise coerced debt and the misuse of civil and insolvency proceedings as domestic abuse.
Answered by Sarah Jones
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 makes clear that domestic abuse extends beyond physical injury to include non-physical forms of harm, including controlling or coercive behaviour and economic abuse, such as coerced debt.
The College of Policing is the standard setting body for policing and issues guidance and Authorised Professional Practice (APP) to policing. The National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Public Protection (NCVPP), established in April 2025, is working closely with the College of Policing to ensure that guidance and training for policing is up to date and adequately recognises the complexity of VAWG crimes, such as domestic abuse. This year, we have provided £13.9 million to support the NCVPP to improve the guidance provided to officers when responding to these crimes.
The newly established Police AI is considering opportunities for AI use to make it easier for frontline officers to access College of Policing guidance.
The Home Office is updating the statutory guidance on domestic abuse and controlling and coercive behaviour. This will reflect the latest policy and practice to strengthen the response to domestic abuse, including economic abuse.
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