A new poll reveals that nearly one in five young men in the UK do not consider controlling a partner's personal bank account as a form of abuse. The survey, conducted by Surviving Economic Abuse and TSB bank, asked men of various ages about six indicators of economic abuse.
Key Findings
The research found that 19% of men aged 18 to 24 would not view a partner controlling how a friend spends their own money or restricting access to their bank account as abusive. This contrasts sharply with older age groups, where only 3% of men aged 55 to 64 held the same view.
Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, described the results as 'deeply worrying.' He emphasized: 'We need to be absolutely clear: controlling someone’s money and economic resources is abuse. Whether it’s restricting how someone spends their money, forcing them into debt or making it difficult for them to work or study, these are tactics used by abusers to exert power and control.'
New Campaign
A new campaign is being launched to raise awareness of economic abuse signs in banks, both online and offline. Customers of Monzo, TSB, Metro Bank, Santander, Revolut, and HSBC will see adverts featuring snakes that highlight four ways people can be financially abused.
TV presenter and campaigner Ruth Dodsworth shared her personal experience: 'In my marriage, money was used as a weapon of absolute control, reducing me to a state of total financial dependence where every penny spent required permission and proof. My bank card vanished and was never replaced, and I even had to ask for money for my lunch, only being given the exact amount in cash for a sandwich meal deal.'
Government Response
Natalie Fleet, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, stated: 'By working with banks on this important issue we are protecting victims and sending a clear message to perpetrators: this is not acceptable, and we will use the full power of the state to keep women and girls safe.'
The campaign is part of broader efforts to address violence against women, including Metro's 'This Is Not Right' initiative launched in 2024.
