Sharp rise in domestic abusers using finances for coercion, UK charities say

Between April 2025 and March 2026, there were 967 referrals to Refuge’s specialist unit – up from 542 the previous year. Photograph: Basak Gurbuz Derman/Getty View image in fullscreen Between April 2025 and March 2026, there were 967 referrals to Refuge’s specialist unit – up from 542 the previous year. Photograph: Basak Gurbuz Derman/Getty Sharp rise in domestic abusers using finances for coercion, UK charities say Refuge reports ‘staggering’ 78% annual increase in referrals for cases of technology-facilitated or economic abuse Domestic abuse charities have reported a “staggering” increase in perpetrators using technology and finances to control their victims, with a “concerning” rise in people being coerced into car finance agreements. Data from Refuge, the UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse charity, reveals a 78% rise in referrals for cases of technology-facilitated or economic abuse in the past year. Between April 2025 and March 2026, there were 967 referrals to Refuge’s specialist unit – up from 542 the previous year. The number of referrals in which victims reported experiencing some form of economic abuse more than doubled, from 198 to 414. Economic abuse can take many forms, including restricting access to money, or preventing a partner from accessing bank accounts. However, it can also involve victim-survivors being coerced or manipulated into taking out loans or credit and over the past two years Refuge’s economic abuse specialists have witnessed a significant rise in cases involving car finance. Prosecutors in England and Wales expect rise in domestic abuse during World Cup Read more “My ex-partner was controlling in many ways, but economic abuse was a big part of this,” said Zara*, a woman supported by the charity. When they were still together, her ex-partner coerced her into taking out a car finance agreement in her name, even though he was using the vehicle. After separating from him, she returned it to the car company. “It was then that I was informed I was liable to pay an early termination fee of around £11,000,” she said. “I couldn’t afford this, so I missed a number of these payments, which then impacted my credit score. “I had to take on extra shifts at work to try to repay the car debt, as well as other debts which my ex had coerced me into.” Another woman, Nicole*, said: “My ex-partner was incredibly controlling during our two-year relationship, but I realised I was experiencing economic abuse when he took my car and registered it in his name without my consent. “The police told me this was a civil issue and that I had to contact my vehicle finance provider for support. He also had subscription payments for a bike, which he coerced me into funding.” A third woman, Sara*, said she had told sales staff she was reluctant to sign for the lease on a car, and they had even seen her arguing with her partner in the dealership, but that they still allowed the agreement to be taken out in her name. “Alongside emotional abuse, my