Coercive Control carries a maximum sentence of 5 years, a fine or both.
Coercion in the eyes of the law is where a person is purposefully domineering towards a partner or their children. The new offence acknowledges what abuse victims have been telling us for decades; that having their independence and other basic rights and liberties controlled is a form of domestic abuse.
This new legislation is significant as it criminalises many other forms of domestic abuse, which have been historically difficult to evidence.
Coercive control could look like:
- Unreasonable and non-negotiable demands
- Stalking – surveillance and unwanted contact
- Cruelty
- Destroying the partners other relationships and isolating her/him from friends, family members, co-workers and others
- Restricting daily activities
- Combination of demands, threats of negative consequences
- Manipulation through minimisation, denial, lies, promises, etc
- Threats and intimidation
- Excuses, rationalisations and blame.
- Stifling the partner’s independence
- Controlling partner’s access to information and services
- Financial control and exploitation
- Demanding obedience
- Treating their partner and children as objects
- Extreme jealousy, possessiveness and ridiculous accusations of cheating
- Punishing the partner and children for breaking one of their rules
- Ignoring their partner’s needs, opinions and feelings, and the harm that their behaviour does to her/him
If you are concerned you about coercive control, talk to the friendly team in confidence at Pepperells.
