To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions on indictment there have been for offences under section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 for alleged controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship; and how many people subject to those convictions have been (a) fined without being imprisoned or (b) imprisoned for the maximum term of five years.
Answered on
20 November 2017
In 2016, there were 27 convictions on indictment for the offence of controlling and coercive behaviour under section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015. The Crown Court handed down 24 sentences of immediate custody. None of these were for the 5-year maximum. There were no cases where a fine was imposed.
These are cases where the coercive and controlling offence was the principal offence. Where a defendant is charged with such an offence alongside another, such as serious sexual assault, the conviction and proceeding would count as a sexual assault offence.