25.06.25
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a powerful and insightful session at Scotland Yard with the Domestic Abuse (DA) team from the Metropolitan Police. The team is dynamic and deeply engaged, composed of several Detective Constables (DCs), Detective Sergeants (DSs), and led by Detective Superintendent Andy Wadey. I also had the chance to meet the newly appointed Commander, Claire Kelland, who brings fresh leadership to this vital area of policing.
One moment that stood out was when Andy asked me why the Met had recently been inundated with emails from our supporters. He shared that he initially tried to respond to every message personally but quickly found himself overwhelmed by the volume. It’s clear our collective voice is being heard, and it’s making an impact. Andy is an ally in this work, and while his team’s direct influence is limited to the Met area, their approach sets a tone that resonates nationally.
The Metropolitan Police are currently undergoing significant shifts in how they respond to domestic abuse, including sweeping changes in frontline activity and training. Thousands more officers are now involved in domestic abuse-related work, a step that’s long overdue but encouraging. This momentum is vital; the way officers engage with survivors from the first moment of contact can shape the entire outcome of a case.
Recognising the link between animal abuse and coercive control is critical, especially since many victims of coercion do not come forward until their pets are threatened or harmed. Understanding this connection is essential for early intervention and for safeguarding both vulnerable individuals and their pets.
We discussed this often-overlooked link between domestic abuse and animal abuse. There’s growing recognition within the Met of how perpetrators may use harm to pets as a method of coercion and control. The Met is beginning to acknowledge and explore how police responses can better incorporate protections for animals in domestic abuse cases – a conversation we’ll be continuing.
At the event I was launching our ‘One Response‘ report, a compilation of our research and feedback from Naturewatch Foundation supporters. We are asking for police training to be mandatory around coercive control, domestic and animal abuse.
Partnerships for protection
These events always provide a rich mix of presentations, discussion, and networking — a space where partnerships grow and strategies are refined. Regular attendees include Met Police trainers, Women’s Aid, charities tackling immigration-related abuse, Hourglass (focused on older person abuse), LGBTQ+ organisations, and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) managers. Rosie Watson from the Domestic Abuse Alliance was also there and is set to be a speaker at the next APDAWG meeting, which I’m looking forward to.
Progress doesn’t happen in silos. It’s through spaces like these, where different agencies come together, that we can shape more informed, compassionate, and effective responses to domestic abuse, for both people and the animals they love.
Scotland Yard is a short walk from Parliament, and it was also wonderful to be joined there by two MPs who advocate for animals, Jess Brown Fuller (Lib-Dem and Cat Eccles (Labour).
“Fear isn’t rational. It’s based on lived experience.” This is why we are focused on breaking the link, together.
