Working with Holly's Law
Holly’s Law could help identify dangerous people sooner and better protect both people and animals.
Holly’s Law, instigated by Holly’s mum Annette Bramley, is a proposal to strengthen safeguarding by making sure animal abuse is recognised as a warning sign of domestic abuse and coercive control.
By making sure this information is considered when assessing risk, Holly’s Law could help identify dangerous people sooner and better protect both people and animals.
Explore this section
What is Holly’s Law?
Research has consistently shown that people who abuse animals may also pose a risk to people. Yet information about animal abuse is not always recognised or considered when decisions are made to protect victims of domestic abuse.
The aim is simple: to make sure a history of animal abuse is taken into account when decisions are made about someone’s safety.
This could help identify dangerous perpetrators earlier and better protect both people and animals.
As part of our Protect Animals. Protect People. campaign, we are working alongside Holly’s family, government departments, MPs, domestic abuse specialists and animal welfare organisations to help close this safeguarding gap.
Help us make Holly’s Law a reality. Sign the petition today and show your support.
Why is Holly’s Law needed?
Animal abuse is a recognised indicator of domestic abuse and coercive control.
Threatening or harming a victim’s pets is often used to instil fear, maintain control and prevent someone from leaving an abusive relationship.
Despite this, animal cruelty is not explicitly referenced within current Clare’s Law guidance.
This creates two important gaps:
Cruelty towards animals can be an important warning sign of the control, intimidation and harm often seen in abusive relationships
Rosie Watson, Domestic Abuse Alliance
Animal abuse is not always recognised as an important safeguarding indicator.
Information about animal abuse is not consistently recorded or shared with those making disclosure decisions.
By recognising these behaviours earlier, Holly’s Law aims to strengthen safeguarding and help protect people before abuse escalates.
Good safeguarding depends on having the right information available at the right time.
Holly’s story
In March 2023, 26-year-old Holly Bramley was tragically murdered by her former partner after suffering violence and coercive control.
During their relationship, Holly’s beloved pets were also abused. The abuse of her animals was part of the wider abuse Holly faced. It was used to frighten her, control her and make her feel unsafe.
Holly’s story shows that animal abuse can be an important warning sign of domestic abuse.
Holly’s mum, Annette Bramley, is determined to prevent other families from suffering the same loss. She is campaigning for change with supporters, safeguarding experts and Naturewatch Foundation.
Together, we are calling for Holly’s Law to make sure animal abuse is recognised when assessing the risk of domestic abuse. This could help identify dangerous perpetrators sooner and protect both people and animals.
How would Holly’s Law work?
Rather than creating a new disclosure scheme or introducing an animal abuse register, Holly’s Law seeks to strengthen the existing Clare’s Law (Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme).
Clare’s Law currently operates in two ways:
Right to Ask
– an individual, or someone concerned for them, can ask the police whether a current or former partner has a history of abusive behaviour.
Power to Tell
– police can proactively disclose information where they believe someone is at risk.
Holly’s Law would strengthen this existing framework by:
- Improving statutory guidance
- Providing clearer operational guidance
- Enhancing training for decision-makers
- Improving the recording and sharing of information about animal abuse between agencies
Campaign progress
As momentum behind Holly’s Law continues to grow, we have been working closely with:
- The Home Office
- DEFRA
- MPs from across all major political parties
- Domestic abuse specialists
- Policing professionals
- Safeguarding organisations
- Animal welfare organisations
We are also exploring how relevant information held by organisations such as the RSPCA could be shared more effectively with police.
This could help ensure that important safeguarding information is available when risk assessments are carried out.
We have been working closely with multiple agencies to improve safeguarding
Westminster Round Table – 10 June 2026
In June 2026, Naturewatch Foundation brought together key decision-makers at Westminster to discuss practical ways to strengthen safeguarding through Holly’s Law.
The round table included:
- Holly’s family, including Annette Bramley
- Home Office officials
- DEFRA officials
- MPs from Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties
- Family lawyer Catherine Haworth
- The RSPCA
- Domestic abuse and animal welfare organisations
Discussions are now at an important stage, with work underway to strengthen guidance around domestic abuse, coercive control and safeguarding
Holly’s Law campaigners, supporters and key decision-makers come together at Westminster for a roundtable discussion on Holly’s Law.
Parliamentary Debate – 29 June 2026
On 29 June 2026, MPs debated proposals relating to an Animal Abuse Register during a Westminster Hall debate.
Throughout the debate, the well-established connection between animal abuse and domestic abuse was highlighted, with Holly’s Law recognised as a practical way to strengthen safeguarding.
Following the debate, DEFRA confirmed several important developments, including:
- Continued collaboration between DEFRA and the Home Office
- Work to strengthen the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme
- Government-funded research into the links between animal abuse and domestic abuse
- A review of Domestic Abuse and Controlling or Coercive Behaviour guidance, including consideration of animal abuse
- Further work with veterinary professionals, pet fostering services and microchipping providers to better protect victim-survivors and their animals
Together, these developments show growing recognition across government that protecting animals and protecting people are closely connected.
Mark Randell and Sarah Carr speak with MP Irene Campbell at a parliamentary drop-in following a Westminster debate, building support for Holly’s Law.
Our research
To support the campaign, Naturewatch Foundation submitted Freedom of Information requests to every police force in England and Wales to better understand how Clare’s Law is currently being used.
Our analysis found considerable variation in disclosure rates between forces. This suggests that safeguarding decisions are not always applied consistently.
The findings reinforce the need for clearer national guidance and greater consistency in decision-making, particularly if information about animal abuse is to be effectively considered as part of future safeguarding assessments.
Looking ahead
Work on Holly’s Law is continuing.
The Home Office is reviewing guidance on controlling and coercive behaviour, while the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme is expected to undergo further consultation.
Naturewatch Foundation will continue working with government, policing, safeguarding professionals and animal welfare organisations to ensure that the link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence is recognised within national safeguarding policy.
Get involved
We are now looking to build even greater support for Holly’s Law.
Whether you are:
- A survivor
- A safeguarding professional
- Someone working in policing or domestic abuse services
- An animal welfare organisation
- Someone who believes this change is needed
We would love to hear from you.
Share your experience or become involved by emailing hope@naturewatch.org.
Later this year, we’ll launch Holly’s 100 – bringing together 100 survivors, professionals and experts calling for Holly’s Law.
