Victims and survivors of economic abuse will benefit from a new partnership to tackle the issue, as new figures from a survey by Ipsos UK published by the Home Office and Surviving Economic Abuse today reveal significant gaps in recognising controlling behaviours as abuse.
According to the figures published today, younger men are 3 times more likely than older men to fail to recognise controlling how someone spends their money as abuse, underscoring the need for urgent action to raise awareness.
To confront this abuse, major UK banks – spanning both high street and digital-only providers, including Monzo, TSB, Metro Bank, Santander, Revolut and HSBC – have joined forces with the government’s Enough campaign to shine a light on economic abuse behaviours that are often dismissed, misunderstood or missed altogether.
In banking apps and certain physical branches, customers will see campaign adverts highlighting 4 forms of economic abuse
- restricting someone’s ability to earn
- running up debts in someone else’s name
- controlling someone’s money
- misusing payment references to harass someone
They utilise the campaigns designed to prompt recognition and trigger reflection among perpetrators.
Economic abuse, a form of domestic abuse that is a criminal offence under the controlling or coercive behaviour offence, involves domestic abusers controlling a current or ex-partner’s money and economic resources (housing, phone, employment, food or clothes).
Domestic abusers can trap people in dangerous situations by controlling their money, restricting their work, or running up debt in their name. This hidden form of control strips away people’s independence and financial stability and devastates families.
This phase of the campaign aims to increase public recognition of economic abuse while also prompting self-reflection among those carrying out these behaviours, encouraging them to recognise and change harmful actions.
Overall, awareness of economic abuse is high, with over 9 in 10 men (94%) able to identify at least one economically abusive behaviour as abuse. However, fewer people recognise all forms, with just 58% of men and 65% of all UK adults (men and women) able to identify every behaviour.
According to the new data, younger men aged 18–24 are less likely than older men to recognise economically abusive behaviours as abuse. Almost one in 5 18-24 year-old men (19%) say that controlling how someone spends their money is probably not or definitely not abuse, compared to just 6% of 45–54-year-olds, and a further 19% of 18-24 year-old men do not recognise controlling access to a personal bank account as abuse. Younger men are more likely to miss these signs, with 16% of 18–24-year-olds saying taking out credit in someone’s name without consent is not abuse, compared to just 4% of 45–54-year-olds.
To confront other hidden forms of abuse, banks are also rolling out new technology to detect and prevent abusive messages sent through payment references when transferring money online – stopping harm at the point it happens and sending a clear signal that this behaviour will not be tolerated.
This partnership follows a roundtable on economic abuse hosted by the Treasury alongside the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Minister Natalie Fleet, bringing together government, economic abuse experts and industry to drive meaningful, life-changing action to tackle this pernicious crime.
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Minister Fleet, said
Economic abuse may not always be visible and doesn’t always leave bruises, but its impact can be just as devastating, isolating victims and controlling every aspect of their lives.
Controlling someone’s money, their work, or their independence is abuse. Plain and simple and it must not be dismissed or normalised.
By working with banks on this important issue we are protecting victims and sending a clear message to perpetrators this is not acceptable, and we will use the full power of the state to keep women and girls safe.
Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, said
At a time when young women are experiencing the highest rates of economic abuse, it is deeply worrying that some younger men are less likely than any other age group to say these behaviours are abusive. That puts them out of step with the vast majority of young men and the wider public and highlights the urgent need to challenge harmful attitudes.
We need to be absolutely clear controlling someone’s money and economic resources is abuse. Whether it’s restricting how someone spends their money, forcing them into debt or making it difficult for them to work or study, these are tactics used by abusers to exert power and control. They trap survivors in dangerous situations and make it harder to safely escape and rebuild their lives.
These attitudes matter because they shape what people think is acceptable in relationships. That’s why all of us – the government, businesses, schools and communities – have a role to play in sending a clear message economic abuse is abuse, and it has no place in our society.
Ruth Dodsworth OBE said
In my marriage, money was used as a weapon of absolute control, reducing me to a state of total financial dependence where every penny spent required permission and proof.
My bank card vanished and was never replaced, and I even had to ask for money for my lunch, and only being given the exact amount in cash for a sandwich meal deal. This forced financial control made it impossible to join friends for coffee or social gatherings, forcing me to constantly make up excuses and withdraw in shame.
By controlling my wallet, he systematically dismantled my support system, leaving me entirely isolated and unable to reach out for help.
Gabby, a young survivor of economic abuse, said
I experienced economic abuse from the age of 17, but at the time I had no idea what it was. I didn’t recognise the warning signs because I had never been taught about economic abuse or how it can affect someone’s life. Looking back, I often wonder whether things could have been different if I had known what to look for.
There needs to be far greater education for young people, particularly young men, about economic abuse and healthy financial boundaries in relationships. Being in a relationship with someone does not mean they are responsible for funding your lifestyle or carrying the financial burden alone.
Banks have made progress in supporting victim-survivors of economic abuse, but there is still much more they can do. In my case, it took 3 years for my property to be repossessed, despite the bank being aware of the situation from the beginning. That delay had a devastating impact, damaging my credit score for years. Victim-survivors deserve better support, understanding and action.
This builds on wider progress to tackle violence against women and girls, including through the government’s pioneering VAWG Strategy published in December.
This includes rolling out Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) to tackle abuse head on, embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms through ‘Raneem’s Law’ to provide better protection to victims, and through the Enough campaign, which challenges harmful attitudes and behaviours to prevent abuse.
This all forms part of the government’s unprecedented mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
Further quotes
Kerry Reynolds, Director of Retail and Business Banking, Metro Bank, said
We welcome the government’s campaign and its focus on raising awareness of a form of abuse that can often remain hidden. At Metro Bank, we recognise the role we can play in supporting those affected to access specialist support.
Through initiatives such as Hestia’s Safe Spaces offered in our stores, people experiencing domestic abuse have a safe, accessible space where they can take a moment and be heard at a time when they may need it most.
Keely Newman Head of Vulnerable Customers at TSB said
Economic abuse can trap people by restricting their financial independence and control.
At TSB, we see first-hand how financial and domestic abuse affects our customers, which is why our Flee Fund provides immediate support to those taking the brave step to leave.
We’re proud to back the Enough campaign, helping people recognise the signs, and provide practical support to regain control and stay safe.
Natalie Beddows, Head of Vulnerability, Access & Inclusion at Monzo, said
We see first-hand the devastating impact economic abuse can have on our customers, which is why supporting those affected has always been a priority at Monzo. We’ve built tools like Share With Us, hidden Pots and flexible communication preferences to help people reach us safely, alongside specialist teams who support customers when they need it.
We look forward to working with others across the industry to continue raising awareness of economic abuse and the serious harm it causes, and provide much-needed support to victim survivors.