In a consultation response, the Bar said it would be “advantageous for the Department to monitor the operation of the new offence in England and Wales before it is introduced in Northern Ireland”.

It noted that there are currently no statistics on the number of prosecutions under the new law and no caselaw as yet.

The consultation response concludes: “In summary, the Bar is supportive of efforts to offer help and protection to victims of domestic abuse.

“We welcome the ambitions of the DOJ and the DHSSPS reflected in the new ‘Stopping Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse’ Strategy, particularly in relation to prevention and early intervention and further work around responsive multi-agency services.

“However, we believe that there are a number of issues around how the criminal justice system would deal with a new offence of domestic abuse linked to controlling and coercive behaviour which the DOJ must address befoer making this change to the law.”