Wednesday 10-03-2021 - 16:28

What is Coercive Control?

Domestic abuse isn’t always physical. Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

This controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent on the perpetrator by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.

How can you tell if this is happening to you?  Here are some common examples of coercive control:

• Isolating you from friends and family.
• Depriving you of basic needs, such as food.
• Monitoring your time.
• Monitoring you via online communication tools or spyware.
• Taking control over aspects of your everyday life, such as where you can go, who you can see, what you can wear and when you can sleep.
• Depriving you access to support services, such as medical services.
• Repeatedly putting you down, such as saying you’re worthless.
• Humiliating, degrading or dehumanising you.
• Controlling your finances.

How the law changed in 2015

In December 2015, a new offence was brought into law of controlling or coercive behaviour in intimate or familial relationships. The new offence closes a gap in the law around patterns of controlling or coercive behaviour in an ongoing relationship between intimate partners or family members. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment.

This offence sends a clear message that this form of domestic abuse can constitute a serious offence particularly in light of the violation of trust it represents and will provide better protection to victims experiencing repeated or continuous abuse. It sets out the importance of recognising the harm caused by coercion or control, the cumulative impact on the victim and that a repeated pattern of abuse can be more injurious and harmful than a single incident of violence.

Reporting coercive control to the police

Coercive control is a criminal offence. If you experience this form of abuse you can report it to the police. The police may give your abuser a warning or they may arrest him for a criminal offence. If the police have enough evidence, they will refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service (‘CPS’). The CPS can start criminal proceedings against your abuser. If he is found guilty of an offence, he can be sentenced up to 5 years in prison or made to pay a fine or both.

The court may also make a restraining order to protect you.  The court can make restraining orders even if your abuser admits that he is guilty, if he is convicted (found guilty) even if he is acquitted or not convicted of the crime. A restraining order is a court order which prohibits your abuser from doing certain things such as contacting you or attending your place of work or home address. Breaching (breaking) a restraining order is a criminal offence.

Coercive control can involve a range of criminal offences including assault, rape, threats to kill, burglary and criminal damage. Coercive control is a criminal offence even if you have not experienced any physical violence or damage to your property. You can report everything that has happened to the police and the police will identify which criminal offences may have been committed. If you have experienced a violent crime you may be entitled to criminal injuries compensation.

There were 17,616 offences of coercive control recorded by the police in the year ending March 2019, compared with 9,053 in the year ending March 2018. (ONS, 2019).

How you can get support

If you feel you are in an emergency or immediate danger you must call 999.

If you are a victim of coercive control, please seek help. You can call the helplines below.

Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge
✆ 0808 200 0247
www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Galop (for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people)
✆ 0800 999 5428
www.galop.org.uk

Men’s Advice Line
✆ 0808 801 0327
www.mensadviceline.org.uk

Sources:

www.womensaid.org.uk

www.rightsofwomen.org.uk