Domestic Abuse
The question
To ask the Solicitor General, what steps his Department is taking to prioritise the bringing about of increases to the charging rate for the offence of coercive and controlling behaviour.
Answered by Attorney General
The introduction of controlling or coercive behaviour as a criminal offence in 2015 marked a fundamental shift in the criminal justice response to abuse, from focusing on individual incidents to recognising patterns of behaviour that entrench control, isolate victims and inflict serious psychological harm.
Controlling or coercive behaviour cases often involve complex patterns of abuse that can be difficult to evidence, especially when victims are traumatised or unable to speak out.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) continues to take action to improve outcomes in these cases, with the number of domestic abuse flagged controlling or coercive behaviour offences charged and reaching a first hearing in the magistrates' court increasing year on year, rising from 763 in 2017 to 6,510 in 2025.
CPS guidance makes clear that prosecutors should actively identify and consider controlling or coercive behaviour offences, recognising the cumulative impact of abusive conduct. Prosecutors are encouraged to charge controlling or coercive behaviour alongside individual incidents where appropriate, ensuring that the full extent of the alleged offending is placed before the court.
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