Technology-facilitated domestic abuse is an urgent and growing issue. Yet, most of what we know about it comes from victim-survivor testimonies or frontline support services. There is limited understanding of the motives, mindsets, and behaviours of those who carry out this abuse. This UKRI-funded project, led by Dr Leonie Tanczer as part of her UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, aims to change that and shift our focus on attention to tech abuse perpetrators.

What is this study about?

We are investigating how perpetrators of domestic abuse use technology as a tool of control, coercion, and harm. We aim to identify patterns and pathways of tech abuse perpetration to:

• Improve risk assessment and safety planning

• Enhance perpetrator intervention strategies

• Inform the design of safer, more abuse-resistant technologies

• Change policy and legislation

Our approach

All our research is conducted in close collaboration with Respect – the UK’s membership body for work with domestic abuse perpetrators – and we work only with Respect-accredited domestic abuse perpetrator programmes (DAPPs) across the UK to ensure ethical and safe engagement. For this research, we are following a mixed methodology involving:

• Interviews and focus groups with individuals enrolled in DAPPs

• Observational research within DAPP settings

• Support DAPP facilitators and frontline staff, including through training and updates to data collection processes

Who we work with

We are currently collaborating with a range of Respect-accredited DAPPs, including:

• Redbridge Council’s Spotlight programme

• My CWA

• Threshold DAS

We are actively looking to partner with additional Respect-accredited services to expand the study's reach and offer support for addressing tech abuse in perpetrator work.

How we support our partners

In return for participation, collaborating organisations receive tailored support, including:

• TFDA training for frontline workers and service managers

• Help update risk assessment tools and documentation practices

• A prototype tech abuse session designed specifically for DAPPs, which can be fully or partially integrated into existing programmes

• Participation in our cross-sectoral Advisory Board

• … and much more!

We are happy to discuss any specific needs, wants, and interests with interested future partners.

Outputs and Impact

Our findings will directly inform:

• The development of new and improved DAPP materials focused on tech abuse

• Recommendations for product designers and tech companies to create safer digital environments

• Guidance for practitioners to better identify and respond to TFDA patterns, which we aim to roll out in conjunction with Respect

This project has received full ethical approval from the UCL Research Ethics Committee and is funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Want to collaborate?

If you are a Respect-accredited service and are interested in taking part, or if you have any questions, please get in touch: Nikos (nikolaos.koukopoulos@ucl.ac.uk) and Leonie (l.tanczer@ucl.ac.uk).