New Report Reveals “Postcode Lottery” in Police Training for Coercive Control Involving Pets in Domestic Abuse Cases
On Monday 23 June, 2025, the animal welfare charity Naturewatch Foundation released a report exposing a concerning disparity in how police forces across England and Wales are trained to handle cases of coercive control involving pets. The report, titled “One Response,” sheds light on a critical but often overlooked aspect of domestic abuse.
Despite the widespread issue of domestic abuse, which affects an estimated 2.3 million adults in the year ending March 2024, and 12.6 million people (one in five adults) over their lifetimes, the report found that only 60% of police forces currently include training on how animals are used as tools of coercion, punishment and manipulation by abusers.
Given that 60% of UK households own a pet, the intersection of domestic abuse and animal abuse is a significant concern. It is a national safeguarding blind spot, with an estimated 900,000 crime scenes a year involving a pet. This means that there are 900,000 opportunities that could potentially be missed to protect animals and people.
Mark Randell, Campaigns Manager at Naturewatch Foundation and former Senior Detective, stated, “Survivors often form deep emotional bonds with their pets, particularly in the context of abusive relationships. Abusers frequently exploit this connection to exert further control. If we are truly committed to addressing Violence Against Women and Girls, a consistent and robust police response must be the standard. It’s concerning that, although this issue is recognized in domestic abuse risk assessments, it remains absent from mandatory police training.”
The report was compiled after Naturewatch Foundation submitted 43 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to police forces in England and Wales. Of the 41 forces that responded, only 26 reported including training on the role of pets in domestic abuse. Greater Manchester Police declined to provide a response.
In addition to revealing the “postcode lottery” in police training, the report also highlights the voices of 687 concerned supporters of the charity who wrote to their Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) calling for stronger protections for both people and animals. While some Commissioners responded constructively, many cited operational limitations or passed the concern on without firm commitments.
Naturewatch Foundation is now calling for three key actions to address this issue:
1. Mandatory training for all frontline officers on the use of pets in coercive control.
2. National consistency in safeguarding policies related to pets.
3. Greater collaboration between domestic abuse professionals and animal welfare experts.
Despite being recognized in official risk assessment tools like DASH and DARA, the link between animal and human abuse remains under-addressed in many areas.
Mark Randell concluded, “We shouldn’t be relying on luck or geography when it comes to keeping us safe. Victims and their animals deserve a coordinated, informed response – no matter which police force is responsible for our home. Domestic abuse response must be consistent across all regions. Support shouldn’t be determined by postcode. There should be one response.”
The report, “One Response,” was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.