Draft guidance on the application of Jersey’s domestic abuse legislation, including what behaviour constitutes coercive control and controlling behaviour, is due to be completed on Friday – two years after the law first came into force.

Solicitor General Matthew Jowitt told politicians on Tuesday he expected the guidance to be published “shortly” after it was finished.

Responding to questions in the States Assembly this week, Mr Jowitt admitted there was “always room for improvement” – but argued that his department had not been “sitting on its hands” when it came to addressing violence against women and girls.

There have been 16 prosecutions for domestic abuse since the law was enacted, 14 of which involved coercive and controlling behaviour.

The Violence Against Women and Girls taskforce, which was established in 2022, published a report in 2023 recommending that the Attorney General should publish such guidance – one of 77 other recommendations.

It was highlighted in a progress report this month that this recommendation was still outstanding.

Mr Jowitt said the guidance would not only “make clear” what kinds of behaviour constituted coercive and controlling behaviour, but also clarify that economic abuse was included within domestic abuse, and provide a definition of “immigration abuse”, in line with other recommendations made by the VAWG taskforce.

The Solicitor General was responding to an oral question from Deputy Kristina Moore.

Jersey’s domestic abuse legislation came into force in June 2023.

Asked why it had taken two years for the guidance to be ready, Mr Jowitt said that the VAWG report recognised that it was a “work in progress”.

He added: “Separately, it’s a question – as with most departments – of priorities. Yes, undoubtedly, issuing public guidance on this topic is very important, but so too, and possibly more so, is prosecuting cases of domestic abuse.

“In the 24 months since the law came into force, the department [Law Officers] has brought 16 prosecutions for domestic abuse, 14 of which involved coercive and controlling behaviour.

“Of course, domestic abuse is only one aspect of violence against women and girls. The department has been ever more involved and engaged in prosecuting serious sexual offending against women and girls over the last several years.”

Mr Jowitt highlighted that there had been four rape sentencings since March.