Love Island star backs plan for HMRC to target domestic financial abuse

A drive for the taxman to spot victims of domestic financial abuse has been backed by a Love Island star.

HMRC staff are being trained to pick up signs that people are being controlled economically by partners – for example forced to take out loans or hand over wages.

The charity Refuge has estimated that 16 per cent of UK adults have experienced financial abuse.

It occurs when an individual’s ability to make money or decide how to use it are being coerced by someone else.

Internal guidance distributed to 30,000 HMRC staff aims to help them identify red flags that people they speak to on the phone might be victims. 

Treasury minister Victoria Atkins wants the government advice to be turned into a toolkit that will be made freely available to businesses and other organisations later in the year.

The drive has been backed by Malin Andersson, who starred in the 2016 season of Love Island and has since become a campaigner and motivational speaker sharing her own experience of domestic violence

In a video for MailOnline at an Advance charity women’s centre in central London, Ms Atkins said: ‘One of the little known facts about domestic abuse is that around one in six women will experience economic abuse.

‘It can be anything from someone stopping you collecting your wages or your benefits, through to taking loans out without your permission in your name.’

Ms Atkins was joined by Malin Andersson, who starred in the 2016 season of Love Island and has since become a campaigner and motivational speaker sharing her own experience of domestic violence. 

Andersson said she remembered going shopping at Boots and being told ‘you don’t need all of that, you don’t need that… you should stop wasting your money’.

‘Your money is your money. It can get worse and worse and the control can get more,’ she added.

Andersson went on: ‘We need everyone to work together if we’re going to be able to stamp out domestic abuse once and for all, so it’s fantastic to see an initiative which will make a difference by training so many people, from businesses and charities, to recognise economic abuse.’ 

Ms Atkins said: ‘The government passed the landmark Domestic Abuse Act and I am determined to build on that commitment to help victims. 

‘Economic and financial abuse can be less understood than other forms of domestic abuse, which is why it is vital organisations share best practice with one another whenever they can.’

Treasury minister Victoria Atkins wants the government advice to be turned into a toolkit that will be made freely available to businesses and other organisations later in the year