Courts must now formally record when an offence involved domestic abuse, under measures that came into force on Monday 5 October 2026, the Ministry of Justice announced that day. The Judicial Finding of Domestic Abuse, introduced by the Sentencing Act 2026 and included in the Criminal Procedure Rules, requires courts to state this in open court at sentencing. It applies only in the criminal courts and uses the definition in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

According to the department, the record will be visible on police, probation and prison systems, helping staff identify repeat offenders and manage risk. Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said patterns of abusive behaviour had not always been recognised across the justice system. Domestic Abuse Commissioner Dame Nicole Jacobs called it a step change in tracking perpetrators, and London Victims' Commissioner Andrea Simon welcomed implementation, citing risks in the context of early prison releases.

The department also cited a Victim Support helpline funded through an £18 million package, expanded electronic monitoring including restriction zones, and domestic abuse specialists in 999 call centres in selected areas.