Changes to the statutory definition of domestic abuse will allow wider recognition of crimes, survivors, and perpetrators. This includes emphasising non-physical forms of abuse, such as economic abuse, as a distinct category, and recognising children as survivors in their own right within the definition, rather than just witnesses.

New and expanded laws will cover more abusive behaviours and strengthen legal grounds for criminal action, brought in under the Act’s commencement schedule. Key changes include making post-separation abuse and non-fatal strangulation criminal offences, extending image-based sexual abuse law to cover threats, and banning the “rough sex” defence.

New duties fall on government, local authorities, police, healthcare, and the justice system: a Domestic Abuse Commissioner and perpetrator strategy; safe housing and tenancy protections; special measures and a cross-examination ban in court; new protection notices, polygraph testing, and disclosure duties for police; and free legal aid letters from GPs.

Several proposed amendments were rejected: extending public funds access for migrant survivors, a stalking/perpetrator register (MAPPA will be strengthened instead), and mandatory judicial training on domestic abuse. A coercion defence was also proposed, following Sally Challen’s case, where new evidence of coercive control reduced her murder conviction to manslaughter.