Update statutory safeguarding guidance to explicitly recognise cultic abuse alongside other forms of abuse, with clearer guidance for identification, response and referral across children’s and adults’ safeguarding frameworks.

Survivors of cultic abuse can experience coercive control, isolation, financial exploitation, emotional harm and safeguarding risks to children and vulnerable adults. Because cultic abuse is not explicitly recognised in statutory guidance, we think professionals can often miss risk indicators or dismiss concerns. We think explicit inclusion would improve early identification, professional responses, and access to protection and support.