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New domestic abuse guidelines

Victims of domestic violence and abuse aged 16 and 17 will be recognised as victims under Government plans. The Home Office is widening the definition of domestic abuse to include a wider range of coercive or threatening behaviour.

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What is domestic violence?

The Government defines domestic violence as:

The Home Office will be widening the definition of domestic abuse in March 2013 to include those aged 16 and 17 as well as a wider range of coercive or threatening behaviour.

The new definition will not be written into law, but it will be broadened to include:

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.

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