FOI 485/25

REQUEST

Q1) For the previous 10 calendar years, please provide the total number of recorded crimes which have been flagged as domestic-abuse related incidents (ie. have met the cross-government definition of domestic violence and abuse) reported by young people, broken down by the following age groups:

 

1) Under 18

2) 18-24

3) 25-30

 

NB: the cross-government definition of Domestic violence and abuse:  "any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to: psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional."

 

Please provide this data for each year:

1. a) 2015
2. b) 2016
3. c) 2017
4. d) 2018
5. e) 2019
6. f) 2020
7. g) 2021
8. h) 2022
9. i) 2023
10. j) 2024
11. k) 2025 – latest available data

 

Q2) Of the reports cited in answer to Q1, please provide the number of cases that resulted in:

 

1) An arrest

2) A charge

3) A prosecution

4) A conviction

Please provide this data for each year:

1. a) 2015
2. b) 2016
3. c) 2017
4. d) 2018
5. e) 2019
6. f) 2020
7. g) 2021
8. h) 2022
9. i) 2023
10. j) 2024
11. k) 2025 – latest available data

 

Q3) For the previous 10 calendar years, please provide the total number of coercive or controlling behaviour  offences reported by young people, also broken down by the following age groups. Please search for this data using the terms ‘coercive control’ and crimes alleged under Home Office code 008/67.

 

1) Under 18

2) 18-24

3) 25-30

 

Please provide this data for each year:

1. a) 2015
2. b) 2016
3. c) 2017
4. d) 2018
5. e) 2019
6. f) 2020
7. g) 2021
8. h) 2022
9. i) 2023
10. j) 2024
11. k) 2025 – latest available data

 

Q4) Of the coercive and controlling behaviour reports cited in answer to Q3, please provide the number of cases that resulted in:

 

1) An arrest

2) A charge

3) A prosecution

4) A conviction

Please provide this data for each year:

1. a) 2015
2. b) 2016
3. c) 2017
4. d) 2018
5. e) 2019
6. f) 2020
7. g) 2021
8. h) 2022
9. i) 2023
10. j) 2024
11. k) 2025 – latest available data

 

Q5) If available, please provide a breakdown of the most common reasons why domestic abuse and coercive control cases did not proceed to charge (e.g., lack of evidence, victim withdrawal).

 

Q6) Finally can you please attach MO codes for the calendar year 2024 for domestic abuse-related offences involving alleged victims under 30? I accept redactions may need to be made to remove personal information. 

 

Clarification – the applicant has stated that where they have asked for copies of the MO code (Question 6), please could they have a copy of the MO description; however, the applicant has removed question 6 after it was established that this would invoke Section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act.

 

The applicant has also confirmed they are happy to receive arrests and charges only for questions 2 and 4.

 

RESPONSE

 

We have consulted with our analysts who have provided us with the below information to answer your request.

 

Question 1

 

Please see the below table that provides the number of crimes relating to domestic abuse (DA) broken down by age group and year:

 

	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Under 18	312	360	406	370	420	378	419	447	429	460	133
18 – 24	2,189	2,772	3,001	2,923	3,086	2,813	2,705	2,598	2,369	2,192	605
25 – 30	2,152	2,747	3,012	3,372	3,644	3,068	3,162	2,878	2,915	2,793	703

Question 2

 

Please see the below table that provides the number crimes relating to DA that resulted in an arrest or charge broken down by year:

 

	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Arrests	3,012	3,568	3,547	3,513	3,345	3,064	2,888	2,662	2,692	2,716	698
Charges	1,564	1,661	1,607	1,392	1,213	1,018	788	711	696	724	141

 

Question 3

 

Please see the below table that provides the number of crimes relating to coercive or controlling behaviour broken down by age group and year:

 

	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Under 18	3	8	7	20	9	10	13	15	15	7
18-24	16	25	51	117	99	59	74	104	94	27
25-30	11	29	51	103	100	68	72	128	111	26

 

Please be advised, the figures in the above table for question 3 have been retrieved by searching under the Home Office offence code ‘008/67: Engage in controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate / family relationship’ and therefore, the data is only available from 2016.

 

Question 4

 

Please see the below table that provides the number crimes relating to coercive or controlling behaviour that resulted in an arrest or charge broken down by year:

 

	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Arrests	16	36	44	60	55	42	38	89	114	26
Charges	7	14	18	35	25	13	26	29	37	5

 

Question 5

 

The most common reasons as to why the cases relating to DA and coercive and controlling behaviour did not proceed to a charge are that the victim does not support police action and evidential difficulties.

Domestic abuse is core police business and we are committed to tackling this crime - from call taking and first response by officers, to the investigation and the subsequent action to protect victims. We believe that working in partnership is essential to ensure that domestic abuse becomes everyone’s business. We work closely with a number of statutory and voluntary sector agencies in South Wales to tackle domestic abuse and the many forms of violence

 

In addition, Operation Amddiffyn was launched in South Wales Police in May 2023. Operation Amddiffyn is a vulnerability related training input that will be provided to all officers and staff in South Wales Police during 2024. This input will be provided to officers and staff who work in public facing roles. Coercive and Controlling behaviour is one of six key themes covered, to raise awareness with our staff and enhance our response to these offences.