Domestic abuse reporting doesn't reflect CPA rise

The number of domestic abuse incidents reported has dropped in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin where PEGS HQ is based.

However, this isn’t cause for celebration given it’s known domestic abuse has actually increased during the multiple lockdowns resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic.

More incidents and fewer reports is sad news all round, and it’s also concerning when we think about specific Child to Parent Abuse cases.

Founding Director Michelle John explains: “Child to Parent Abuse isn’t specifically categorised by all police forces so it’s not currently possible to track overall patterns in CPA reporting.

“We know CPA has always been under-reported and with the general dip in domestic abuse reporting during the pandemic, it’s a real concern that experts are having to make educated guesses about the prevalence of CPA.

“At PEGS, we’d like to see relevant incidents categorised as CPA so all police forces can look at patterns over time and respond accordingly. Of course, the other side of this is encouraging parents to disclose (either to police or to other professionals such as social care teams or their GP) so that we can get a more accurate picture of the scale of CPA. It’s believed it’s increased by around 70% over lockdown but of course we can never be entirely sure.”

There are multiple barriers to parents, carers and guardians feeling able to talk to a professional when they are experiencing CPA. That’s why PEGS not only works with families, but also with organisations such as police forces and local authorities to ensure they are trained on how to respond to CPA.

Michelle adds: “It’s only by debunking myths around CPA and ensuring professionals respond appropriately and effectively to situations that we can begin to encourage more parents to come forward and talk about their situation. We don’t want any family to feel trapped or isolated by what’s going on in their home, we need to make CPA a topic that can be discussed – and we need to ensure reported incidents are categorised to build up a better idea of exactly how many families are impacted.”

Please email hello@pegsupport.com if you're a parent who needs support, or a professional who'd like to find out more about training.

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Founding Director, Michelle, has been awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours for Family Support and Advocacy.

By PEGS Admin • June 15, 2026

Child to Parent Abuse organisation founder awarded MBE The founder of a social enterprise which has supported thousands of parents impacted by abusive behaviours from their children has been awarded an MBE. Michelle John, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales but now based in Shropshire, was among the names announced for the prestigious accolade in the King’s Birthday Honours List this year. In 2020, Michelle set up not-for-profit organisation PEGS with the aim of supporting parents and carers, training professionals, influencing local and national policy, and raising awareness of Child to Parent Abuse – which is thought to affect up to one in ten households in the UK. Since then, she has grown a team of experts who have trained police, social workers, teachers and many other professionals to better recognise the signs of CPA, support parents, and signpost to specialist organisations. In addition, Michelle set up a range of parent-focused initiatives including daily practitioner-led online sessions, a Facebook peer support group which now has 3,300 members, and one-to-one offerings for those at highest risk. PEGS launched a CPA Covenant for employers in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, only the fourth such covenant to be backed by the Government, and Michelle has advised everyone from the Home Office to Channel 4 and the BBC on CPA – the latter for storyline on Hollyoaks and EastEnders. Her work has seen CPA covered by journalists across television news programmes, national newspapers and magazine, and regional press and radio, and she’s received numerous awards both in the UK and internationally. Michelle, whose MBE was awarded for Family Support and Advocacy, said: “This honour is also shared with the parents who have trusted me along the way: they drive me, inspire me and I will always stand with them. “I feel proud, privileged and very grateful – and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me and PEGS along the way. There is much more to come for PEGS, and we will continue to work every day for the parents and carers who have been or continue to be impacted by CPA. “There is so much to reflect on from the journey of the last six years, and there have been many highlights and challenges along the way. I am sure there will be many more in the future – although being told I’d received an MBE will always remain a truly incredible moment that I’ll remember forever!” For more information about us, visit www.pegsupport.co.uk or search for 'PEGS' on social media!