The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines DA as the behaviour of a person towards another person if both are each aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other; and if the behaviour is abusive.

Definition of being personally connected:

  • They are or have been married to each other.
  • They are or have been civil partners of each other.
  • They have agreed to marry one another (whether the agreement has been terminated).
  • They have entered into a civil partnership agreement (whether the agreement has been terminated).
  • They are or have been in an intimate personal relationship with each other.
  • They each have or there has been a time when they each have had a parental relationship in relation to the same child.
  • They are relatives.

A person has a parental relationship in relation to a child if the person is a parent of the child or the person has parental responsibility for the child.

Behaviour is Abusive if it consists of any of the following:

  • Physical or sexual abuse
  • Violent or threatening behaviour
  • Controlling or coercive behaviour
  • Economic abuse
  • Psychological, emotional or other abuse

It is important to note that women experiencing domestic abuse may also be experiencing other forms of VAWG such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation and honour-based violence.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 also recognises that children who have witnessed domestic abuse are now considered victims in their own right.