July 1, 2026 In News, Research

Know This: Research and knowledge sharing briefing (edition 12)

Our ‘Know This’ briefings are a regular note to alert colleagues to recent discussions happening in the sectors relevant to our work. The briefing is not intended to be an exhaustive list of major changes and developments in our sectors. If you see anything you think needs to be in a future bulletin, let us know at PracticeResearchUnit@interventionsalliance.co.uk and we will include it in the next edition.

 

Government Updates

Man sentenced under new sex harassment law (9 June 2026)

The first man has been sentenced under new legislation (Section 4B of the Public Order Act 1986, introduced on 1st April 2026) which criminalised behaviour causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress because of a person’s sex or presumed sex. David Stroud had harassed a woman on a train, directing inappropriate comments towards her, grabbing her hair and asking to kiss her, despite her asking him to leave her alone. In her victim impact statement, the victim said she felt “powerless and petrified”, and that his crime has “impacted every part of my life”.  

 

The man told arresting officers it was “just banter” and speaking to journalists after the sentencing, the man blames alcohol for his behaviour, says he thought he was having an “amicable chat” with the victim. He was also on bail after pleading guilty to a separate 22-month stalking campaign where he harassed another victim on a train. He was sentenced for both offences, receiving a 12 month community order. 

On 9th June, the British Transport Police said they had made 26 arrests under the new legislation, all of whom were men.  

Consultation on stronger rights for unmarried couples (5 June 2026)

The government has announced a consultation that will give unmarried couples more financial security – including survivors of domestic abuse who leave their relationship (whatever their marital relationship). The proposals recognise modern issues people face when a relationship ends or a partner dies, particularly when one person is financially dependent on another. The consultation will also assess whether courts should give greater weight to the impact of domestic abuse, including controlling or coercive behaviour or economic abuse, when assessing finances for married couples and cohabitants. The consultation closes on 14th August 2026. 

Government response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report on addressing domestic abuse in Family Courts (10 June 2026)

On 10th June the government published its response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s (DAC) report ‘Everyday Business’. The DAC report, published in October 2025, outlines their findings and recommendations following a pilot of the Family Court Reporting and Review Mechanism (FCRRM), which began in September 2023. The FCRRM was developed to maintain oversight of family courts’ performance in protecting children and adult victims from domestic abuse and other risks of harm in private law children’s proceedings.  

The government has accepted 8 of the recommendations in full, accepted 5 in part, and will not take forward 6. Further funding for phase two of the FCRRM has been agreed by the government.  

Research reports and practice guidance

“They don’t understand abuse” – Centre for Women’s Justice (27 May 2026)

This report details the impact on victim-survivors who are criminalised or accused of offending when they are in fact the victims of abuse, with insights from both victim-survivors and frontline women’s services.  

Survivors reported a high level of distrust in police and prosecutors, and frontline services reported a culture of inaction and victim shaming. All participants disagreed that women’s experiences of abuse were properly considered in police decisions to arrest or prosecute.  

Findings centred on five themes: Culture of disbelief; Lack of understanding of domestic abuse and coercive control; Failure to apply the public interest test; Failure to implement a trauma-informed response; Discrimination against Black, Asian, minoritised and migrant women. 

A Whole Society Blueprint for Suicide Prevention – Churchill Fellows (3 June 2026)

The report presents seven connected themes from the collective work of a diverse and global network of professional and lived experience perspectives from the field of suicide prevention. Each of the 28 Fellows in the network also present a brief overview of their work, with research on community approaches and settings, engaging with lived experiences, men’s health, policing, prisons, domestic abuse, asylum systems, education, children in care, children bereaved by suicide, culturally tailored support, personality disorders, healthcare professionals, media, and public spaces.  

Victim‑Blaming and Bias in Family Court Judgments – Right to Equality (9 June 2026)

A report from Right to Equality shows that 72% of family court judgments containing domestic and sexual abuse contain gender bias and victim-blaming from judges. Mothers’ behaviour was scrutinised, whereas fathers’ behaviour was minimised, and victim-blaming was subtle, making it easier to embed in judicial reasoning and harder to challenge. 

Rethinking domestic abuse in child protection: responding differently – funded by the Nuffield Foundation (23 June 2026)

This research was undertaken by a collective of researchers and DA experts, exploring how statutory children’s services respond to DA, with a focus on how intersecting inequalities, including poverty, ethnicity, gender and disability shape families’ experiences of DA and the systems intended to protect and support them. The project utilised quantitative and qualitative data from three case study sides in England and Scotland over three years, underpinned by two co-production mechanisms. 

Along with the final report, the findings are distilled in to five principles, focussing on embedding a broad prevention approach, holistic assessments and response, the need for data and evidence, and building engagement and confidence with families. Additional outputs including a literature review, podcast, case studies and briefings for practitioners and leaders. 

Children’s services and violence prevention – Youth Endowment Fund (10 June 2026)

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has launched guidance and seven recommendations, based on a plethora of YEF evidence, including annual survey data, YEF-funded reviews and evaluations and insights from YEF’s peer, youth and expert panels. The guidance is written for senior leaders of children’s services, but is also relevant for those involved in safeguarding partnerships and practice managers. The report covers three key areas: strengthening safeguarding responses to extra-familial harm (including serious violence); improving access to evidence-based interventions; and proactively safeguarding children in care from violence.  

Children & Young People

Government backs reunions with families and trusted adult for children in care (4 June 2026)

Schemes which help children in care and care leavers re-connect with important adults in their lives are to be expanded, securing £8.4m of funding. Specially trained coordinators facilitate contact between care-experienced young people and relatives, trusted adults, social workers, former carers, teachers and others who would like to re-engage with children they have supported in the past. Such connections enable care-experienced children and young people to build the support networks which are critical for them to thrive in adulthood. As we expand our work with children and young people, we will explore how to facilitate pathways for reconnection that support practitioners and care-experienced adults  

The announcement comes as part of a wider programme of work to reform children’s social care, moving away from crisis intervention and prioritising enduring relationships in the care system. 

Delivering the children’s social care reset (21 May 2026)

An implementation plan published by the government to support the ambitious reforms to children’s social care outlined in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The plan sets out how local partners can improve early help, strengthen family network support, and create stable homes for children in care.  

The plan also spotlights the children’s residential care workforce, launching a review of professional development, recruitment, and retention of residential children’s practitioners. The review will report to ministers in September. 

Current events

Football and domestic abuse

Readers will no doubt be aware of the link between football and domestic abuse, with research showing that around major football tournaments, DA incidents rise by 26% on England match days (win or draw) and by 38% when they lose. With the World Cup currently underway, many organisations have additional campaigns, resources and help being publicised.  

  • ‘We Won, I Lost’: awareness raising resource from The Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline 

Murder of Henry Nowak

The Henry Nowak case concerns the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak in Southampton in December 2025. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, was convicted of murder in May, and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. The case attracted national attention following the release of further details and bodycam footage, showing police had initially handcuffed Nowak after the attack, believing a false allegation that he had been the aggressor. This has led to intense scrutiny of the police response, as well as the criminal case. 

 

TV, podcasts and media

Gareth Southgate: Changing the Game for Young Men

Former England men’s football manager Gareth Southgate reveals the struggles many boys and young men face, asking why some feel left behind and what could help them move forward. 

The Accused: Beyond Reasonable Doubt?

At the age of 17, Stacey Hyde stabbed and killed her friend’s boyfriend – although she said she was acting in self defence while he assaulted her friend, she was charged with murder in 2010. This programme details how her family and appeal team challenged the case, finally leading to her acquittal after the re-trial jury concluded she had indeed acted in self-defence. 

Dr Lisa Cherry – Resisting the Dilution of Trauma Informed Practice

This 6-part podcast series sees Dr Lisa Cherry in conversation with leading psychologists, discussing the disconnect between the underlying principles of trauma informed practice and its everyday implementation, and the importance of understanding and relational practice for successful practice.