The Call for Domestic Abuse Laws to Support Victims Under 16

The recent murder of 15-year-old Holly Newton from Northumberland, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend Logan MacPhail, has sparked a national call for an urgent review of the application of domestic abuse legislation to those aged under 16.

Holly's experience, which encompassed coercive control, obsessive jealousy and deadly violence, has reignited discussion about whether domestic violence laws go far enough to protect young, impressionable victims from predatory teen relationships.

The case has prompted Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to state that her department is now examining whether domestic abuse laws should be changed, particularly for younger victims. Cooper's comments are in response to the campaign led by Holly's grieving family, who believe that under current legislation, crimes like those suffered by Holly are not properly classified or understood.

Holly Newton met Logan MacPhail when they were both Army cadets. The 18-month relationship became increasingly marked by MacPhail's controlling and obsessive behaviours. Holly's mother, Micala Trussler, said MacPhail was always checking on Holly, needing to know what she was doing, and calling her multiple times daily. When Holly started to reclaim her independence by breaking up with him, MacPhail’s behaviour spiralled out of control.

MacPhail had driven 40 miles from his Gateshead home to Haltwhistle, where Holly lived, and spent hours prowling outside her house on the night before launching his lethal attack. Although her mother had contacted police out of concern, it was too late to avoid the tragedy. The next day, MacPhail tracked Holly through Hexham town centre before he stabbed her 36 times, killing her.

The now 17-year-old MacPhail was convicted of Holly's murder and the wounding of another young person who attempted to intervene, and has been sentenced to a minimum of 17 years imprisonment.

An Absence in the law for recognising domestic abuse among teenagers

Domestic abuse is not officially registered as domestic abuse in the UK unless the abuser and the victim are both over 16 years old. Crimes involving individuals under this age are often instead categorised as general assault or knife crime, obscuring the dynamics of control, jealousy, and possessiveness that define abusive relationships.

Holly’s family feel that this legal distinction misses the critical nature of what actually transpired. Holly’s mother contends that the brutal killing was not merely an incident of knife crime but one steeped in emotional manipulation and control, a scenario that would more accurately be classified as domestic abuse if the age threshold were lowered.

Holly's stepfather, Lee Trussler, also agreed, calling for a rethink about the way the law treats abusive relations among teenagers. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said:

"One thing that I would like to see is the domestic violence age reduced where it can be classed as a crime, especially with children getting into relationships younger.”

Following public concern that teenage domestic violence is a real and present danger, Yvette Cooper admits this is a

"serious issue"

This highlights an alarming increase in violence among young couples. Cooper also expressed her sympathy to the family of Holly, adding she intends to look into existing laws to make sure young people are protected in these vulnerable situations.

Cooper’s proposed review addresses the argument that changing the classification of certain crimes involving teenagers could help authorities better understand and intervene in cases of teenage abuse.

“We want to look at the ways we make sure that police properly record cases of violence against women and girls in the right way, but also that we take action against it,”

Cooper said. She also highlighted the importance of education, noting that more should be done in schools to help teenagers recognise what constitutes healthy and unhealthy relationships.

As well as a call for the law to be changed, Holly's mother also highlighted a need for schools to educate young people about domestic abuse.

“Young people are getting into relationships earlier, and they need that support,” she said, adding further, “In the eyes of the law, they aren’t victims of domestic abuse unless they are over 16.”

The tragic experience that Holly went through highlights the need to educate teenagers on the importance of boundaries in relationships and how to recognise the red flags of harmful controlling behaviour. Many campaigners argue that intervention earlier on could stop toxic relationships from developing, as young people are often ill-equipped to spot an abusive relationship, let alone one that may lead to domestic abuse.

A National Priority: Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls

In the last few years, domestic violence against women and girls has been recognised as a national emergency. As part of HM Government’s pledge to cut violence in half over the next decade, the focus has intensified on preventative measures and early intervention for younger age groups. Cooper’s review promises to consider the classification and recording of violent behaviours among teenagers, with the hope that such measures will offer new avenues for intervention before abuse becomes fatal.

Holly's family advocates for young people in abusive situations and hopes this case shows the need to expand protections and requirements for teens in law. Teen relationships are already complicated, with intense feelings and raging hormones, which can make control problems worse. Recognising these dynamics through a legislative framework could provide both a deterrent and a means to address harmful behaviours in young relationships.

What happened to Holly Newton is a tragic example of how easily young people can find themselves in a controlling or abusive relationship. But by excluding under-16s, existing domestic abuse legislation misses this broader picture of these dynamics. The campaign led by Holly's family demands a complete overhaul of the system to place teenage abuse front and centre in law while also giving young victims the necessary support.

The proposed reforms hopefully signal legislative change that will acknowledge and protect vulnerable teenagers.

Sara Spinks

SSS Author & Former Headteacher