The new College of Policing guidance is designed to help officers prosecute without relying on victims' evidence.
It also advises senior officers about the need for specialist staff to deal with cases of abuse and ensure victims receive the best possible support.
David Tucker, from the college, said a change was needed within policing in attitudes towards domestic abuse.
The College of Policing guidance focuses on abusive relationship dynamics.
A new domestic abuse offence of "coercive and controlling behaviour" within relationships is expected to come into force later this year, after it was unveiled by Home Secretary Theresa May last year.
This type of behaviour can include the abuser preventing their victim from having friendships or hobbies, refusing them access to money and determining many aspects of their everyday life.
The college is releasing a "toolkit" for officers who are first at the scene of an incident, as well as checklists for call handlers and counter staff in police stations for when they are contacted about domestic abuse.
Mr Tucker, head of the college's crime and criminal justice faculty, said: "Our research indicated the need for a culture change within policing attitudes towards domestic abuse.
"Sometimes police cannot understand why a victim would stay in an abusive relationship.
"There are dozens of reasons why victims feel unable to leave or support prosecution.
"It is the responsibility of the perpetrator to stop the abuse and the responsibility of the police to bring the perpetrator to justice - the victim is not responsible for either."
He said police needed to investigate domestic abuse "pro-actively" and should be "properly trained".
Polly Neale, chief executive of the charity Women's Aid, said it was "vital" that police officers understood coercive control to help them identify victims.
Diana Barran, from the charity SafeLives, said the new guidance was "a huge step forward in helping police to understand the complex nature of domestic abuse and - in particular - coercive control".

Thirteen people were killed when British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights march through the city in January 1972. A fourteenth died later.
The 66-year-old former paratrooper was arrested in County Antrim on Tuesday.
It is understood he is being questioned over the deaths of William Nash, Michael McDaid and John Young.
He is soldier J, who was one of the soldiers who appeared before the Saville Inquiry.
Leo Young, whose brother John was killed aged 17 on Bloody Sunday, told BBC Radio Foyle that he welcomed the news.
"A flood of emotions came into my head when I heard the news about the arrest," said Mr Young.
"A prosecution has to happen soon. We waited for over 40 years and this is a big step.
"I think about my brother every day. His life was cut short and I keep thinking about him because he would probably be married today.
"I was 24 at the time and going through those inquires was a real battle.
"This is a giant step and I feel for all the families involved."
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was among those killed on Bloody Sunday, said the arrest "gives fresh hope".
"This is a massive moment for the families and the city," said Mr Kelly.
"My brother's death is no different to any other death on that day. This is major development and I hope there is an arrest in relation to my brother soon.
"Hopefully there will be prosecutions soon."
Sir Gerald Howarth, a Conservative MP and former defence minister who represents former soldiers on duty at the time of Bloody Sunday, said there are hundreds of families dealing with murder across Northern Ireland.
"We cannot forget that a lot of families haven't had justice yet," said Sir Howarth.
"It would be good if we could just close this chapter.
"I'm not excusing what happened but I do not think it is in the public interest for former soldiers to be prosecuted.
"This is now a matter for the prosecuting authorities though."
Police officers in England and Wales are to get specialist advice on how to spot patterns of domestic abuse.
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Detectives are continuing to question a former soldier over the deaths of three people on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry.