Part 7: Miscellaneous and general Section 84: Power of Secretary of State to issue guidance about domestic abuse, etc
This section confers a power on the Secretary of State (generally, the Home Secretary) to issue guidance about any of the provisions in the Act and about other matters relating to domestic abuse in England and non- devolved matters in Wales. Amongst other things, such guidance must provide further explanation of the definition of domestic abuse, including by illustrating the different forms it can take (for example, forced marriage and coercive control related to a victim’s immigration status) and the adverse effect on children. Guidance must also take account of the fact that the majority of victims of domestic abuse are female. Such statutory guidance would help promote understanding amongst public authorities of domestic abuse and the powers available to them to protect and support victims.
	In preparing the guidance, the Secretary of State is under a duty to consult the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, the Welsh Ministers in so far as the guidance is to a body exercising devolved Welsh functions, and such other persons as he or she considers appropriate (for example, the police and other practitioners) (subsection (6)). Persons exercising public functions to whom the guidance is given will be under a duty to have regard to the guidance when exercising such functions (subsection (4)).