New research published by the Home Office and Surviving Economic Abuse has revealed concerning gaps in young people’s understanding of economic abuse, reinforcing the need for greater education around healthy relationships and coercive control.
The survey found that almost one in five men aged 18-24 do not recognise controlling how someone spends their money as a form of abuse. A similar proportion do not recognise controlling access to a partner’s personal bank account as abusive behaviour.
The findings have been released as part of the Government’s Enough campaign and coincide with a new partnership between major UK banks and the Home Office to tackle economic abuse, including action against perpetrators who misuse payment references to send intimidating or abusive messages after a relationship has ended.
Economic abuse is a form of domestic abuse that involves controlling a partner’s access to money and economic resources, often restricting independence and making it harder for victims to leave unsafe relationships. It can include controlling spending, restricting employment, forcing debt onto a victim, or using financial systems to continue abuse after separation.
Jane Harvey, Chief Executive of the Hollie Gazzard Trust, said:
“At Hollie Gazzard Trust, we understand all too clearly the devastating impact of economic abuse. It was only after Hollie’s murder that her family discovered the extent of the financial control she had endured, including being coerced into taking on thousands of pounds of debt.
Economic abuse is often subtle, hidden, and difficult for others to recognise. Yet we know that controlling behaviour is closely linked to serious violence, and that leaving a controlling partner can carry significant risk.
We are increasingly aware of perpetrators using financial tools to continue abuse after separation – including sending intimidating or abusive messages through payment references. This can have a profound and lasting psychological impact, and we welcome steps by banks to address this misuse of the system.
While this new research is deeply concerning, it is not surprising. It reinforces the urgent need to improve understanding of economic abuse, particularly among young people. We welcome the Home Office and banking sector’s efforts to shine a light on these behaviours.
Campaigns such as ‘Enough’ are vital. They underline the importance of educating young people about healthy relationships, helping them to recognise early warning signs of abuse, and ensuring they understand that respect, autonomy, and safety must be at the heart of every relationship.”
The findings echo what the Hollie Gazzard Trust sees through its work with schools, colleges and universities across the UK. Education remains one of the most powerful tools in helping young people identify unhealthy behaviours early and understand what a healthy relationship should look like.
To learn more about the Government’s Enough campaign, visit: https://www.enough.campaign.gov.uk/