Petition
Make post separation abuse a stand-alone offence
Rejected
11 signatures
What the petition asks
Abuse usually escalates post separation and can be relentless for months and years.
We must hold abusers to account and prevent further abuse at the most dangerous time for those having escaped abusers.
Our current system doesn't.
We must hold abusers to account and prevent further abuse at the most dangerous time for those having escaped abusers.
Our current system doesn't.
Escaping an abuser is proven to be the most dangerous time for any victim/survivor. It is well evidenced and recognised that abuse escalates in severity post separation and along with that the risks to the victim/survivor and their families is vast.
Separation is a key indicator in femicide with 2 women a week murdered in the UK by a current or ex-partner.
Convictions for abuse post separation would validate and better protect victims who remain largely unheard or feel there is no escape
Separation is a key indicator in femicide with 2 women a week murdered in the UK by a current or ex-partner.
Convictions for abuse post separation would validate and better protect victims who remain largely unheard or feel there is no escape
Why it was rejected
The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.
Controlling or coercive behaviour is a crime in England and Wales under section 76 of the Serious Crime Act (2015). This law highlights that domestic abuse is often a purposeful pattern of behaviour.
The Domestic Abuse Act (2021) for England and Wales extended this offence to include post-separation abuse. This changed the law so that controlling or coercive behaviour can now potentially be prosecuted as a criminal offence even if the parties are no longer in a relationship and are not living together.
The Domestic Abuse Act (2021) for England and Wales extended this offence to include post-separation abuse. This changed the law so that controlling or coercive behaviour can now potentially be prosecuted as a criminal offence even if the parties are no longer in a relationship and are not living together.
Timeline
| 14 Jan 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 10 Mar 2025 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
11
Status
Rejected
Rejected
10 Mar 2025
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 23 Aug 2026.