Domestic abuse is legally defined under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 as any behaviour between personally connected individuals that is abusive, including emotional, economic, and psychological abuse. The offence of controlling or coercive behaviour, under the Serious Crime Act 2015, targets a 'course of conduct' where a pattern of behaviour had a 'serious effect' on the complainant. Since 2023, the law has been extended to cover post-separation abuse, ensuring that ex-partners can still be prosecuted even if they no longer cohabit.

Defending against coercive control allegations requires a forensic examination of digital communication records and relationship histories to identify inconsistencies or demonstrate that behaviour was misinterpreted or reasonable in the circumstances. As of 2025, offenders sentenced to 12 months or more for coercive control are subject to Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). New sentencing guidelines for non-fatal strangulation now provide a starting point of immediate custody, even in the absence of visible injury. Representation at the pre-charge stage is critical to undermining the prosecution's narrative of a sustained pattern of behaviour.