Policing a new domestic abuse crime: effects of force-wide training on arrests for coercive control

Following a pre-registered study design, we estimated the effect of police force-wide domestic abuse training on arrests for new crime ‘controlling or coercive behaviour’. Using data monthly counts arrest controlling behaviour in 33 forces, performed negative binomial difference-in-difference analysis and capitalised differences intervention timing to undertake an event study. Training was associated with 41% increase trained forces (IRR 1.413, 95% CI 1.235–1.617) consistent training. This provides evidence that entire understand dynamics abuse, including offence control, is effective increasing rate control. However, number control as proportion total remains miniscule.