Protecting Animals, Protecting People: Devon and Cornwall Charity Leaders Support National Drive for Holly’s Law
Local charity, Refuge4Pets, highlights the vital link between animal abuse, domestic abuse, and safeguarding at Westminster round table.
Dr Mary Wakeham, CEO, and Mark Randell, Trustee, from Refuge4Pets attended a significant Parliamentary round table at Portcullis House on 10 June 2026, bringing together MPs, government officials, animal welfare organisations, safeguarding specialists, and campaigners to discuss the future of Holly’s Law.
The meeting comes at a time when services across Devon and Cornwall continue to support victims of domestic abuse, with thousands of incidents reported across the region each year. Local safeguarding partners, police, councils, health services, and specialist charities are increasingly recognising the importance of identifying early warning signs of abuse, including harm or threats towards family pets.
Refuge4Pets, which supports people and animals affected by domestic abuse across Devon and Cornwall, attended the event to represent the experiences of local victims who often face impossible choices when leaving abusive situations: their own safety or the safety of their animals.
Holly’s Law is named in memory of Holly Bramley, whose murder highlighted the devastating reality that animals can be used as a tool of control, intimidation, and coercion within abusive relationships. The campaign seeks to ensure that animal abuse is recognised as important safeguarding intelligence that can help protect both animals and people.
The Westminster meeting highlighted the growing understanding that cruelty towards animals is not always an isolated animal welfare concern. Evidence and lived experience show it can be linked to domestic abuse, coercive control, repeat offending, and wider patterns of violence.
Discussions focused on strengthening safeguarding practice, including recognising the role animals can play in coercive control, improving information sharing between agencies, and ensuring pets are considered when assessing risk and supporting victims.
Across Devon and Cornwall, multi-agency safeguarding approaches bring together organisations including police, local authorities, health services, domestic abuse specialists, and animal welfare organisations to help identify risk and provide support. Including animals within these conversations could help professionals better understand the full picture of harm facing victims.
Dr Mary Wakeham said, “Refuge4Pets sees every day how closely animal welfare and human safety are connected. For many victims of domestic abuse, concern for their pets can be a major barrier to leaving. Recognising animal abuse as part of safeguarding conversations means we have a better chance of protecting everyone affected.”
Mark Randell, a former senior detective, added, “Holly’s Law represents an important shift in how we understand abuse. By bringing animal welfare and human safeguarding together, we can improve early intervention, strengthen support pathways, and help prevent further harm.”
The meeting follows growing national momentum around recognising the connection between animal abuse and violence against people. By ensuring animals are included in safeguarding discussions, Holly’s Law aims to create stronger systems that identify risks earlier and support victims more effectively.