Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates courts sittings for domestic abuse or violence cases in England and Wales have been cancelled during each of the last two years.
The information sought is not held centrally for all domestic abuse or violence cases.
Information is available for the offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship (s 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015). In 2016, 36 cases were either discontinued, withdrawn or discontinued where no evidence was offered.