Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many summary convictions 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 12 months.

In 2016, there were 32 summary convictions for the offence of controlling and coercive behaviour under section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015. Of these 32, seven were committed to the Crown Court for sentence.

Of the remaining 25 which were sentenced in the magistrates’ court; four were given an immediate custodial sentence and three of these cases received the maximum term available for this offence (six months) as provided under section 86 of the Serious Crime Act 2015. 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.