VISION Policy Brief: Addressing Abuse in Teenage Relationships

This briefing highlights emerging findings and policy recommendations from ongoing research and stakeholder engagement into abuse in teenage relationships carried out by the UKPRP VISION consortium.

Abuse—whether physical, emotional, or sexual—within young people's relationships is often overlooked in both research and policy. The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) finds that young women aged 16 to 19 are more likely to experience domestic abuse than any other age group. Despite this high prevalence, this age group is less likely to be referred to support services. Furthermore, the CSEW does not cover individuals under the age of 16, leaving a major gap in understanding of prevalence.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 marked a significant step forward by recognising children living in homes where domestic abuse occurs between parents or other adults as victims in their own right. However, this protection does not extend to children experiencing abuse within their own relationships. Therefore, the gap poses ongoing challenges for those tasked with policing and addressing adolescent domestic abuse.

This policy brief provides an overview of the gaps in research and policy and the VISION activities that occurred to enable this understanding. It includes key findings on research and policy gaps, key recommendations for plugging those gaps, and VISION's next steps.