Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to begin its review of the effectiveness of the controlling or coercive behaviour offence; and if he will consult specialist violence against women and girls organisations as part of that review.

On 21 January we published our landmark draft Domestic Abuse Bill and consultation response which will transform the cross-Government response to this devastating crime. In our consultation response we committed to review the effectiveness of the coercive or controlling behaviour offence to ensure it is fit for purpose and that it adequately protects victims from abuse.

We are in the early stages of establishing the terms of reference for the review, and will be consulting with relevant Government and external stakeholders accordingly.