Domestic abuse and women with ‘no recourse to public funds’: the state’s role in shaping and reinforcing coercive control

Abstract

If they are subject to immigration control, women who experience domestic abuse in the UK face particular barriers to finding safety and support. In particular, the ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) rule means that women subject to immigration controls on a variety of visa statuses cannot access safe refuge accommodation or other support. Based on interviews with service providers in six cities, this article explores the impact of this rule in trapping women in relationships of coercive control. These women expect, and frequently encounter, a climate of hostility to which the state contributes. The state, through this rule, plays an active role in factors that increase danger for women, even as it reduces their options.