What is Coercive Control? 10 ways to spot it. Gemma Lindfield discusses in Cosmopolitan Magazine
The government has said coercive control will now be viewed as seriously as other forms of domestic abuse – but what are the signs to recognise?
When it comes to tackling abuse and violence against women and girls (VAWG), it's clear there's still a lot of work to be done, especially when it comes to ensuring non-physical forms of abuse are recognised and taken seriously.
Coercive and controlling behaviour – which can include making threats, isolating someone from loved ones, constantly checking up on or monitoring someone's time and more – became a criminal offence back in 2015 and carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. Previously, the definition of domestic violence only accounted for incidents of physical injury, like a black eye for example.
Now, the government has introduced a new legal requirement designed to see individuals who've been given a sentence of 12 months or more relating to coercive control more closely monitored during their probation period. Said individuals will now automatically be managed under MAPPA (multi-agency public protection arrangements), which has been found to have a higher rate of preventing reoffending than other forms of rehabilitation. Previously, it was discretionary as to whether or not an offender would be managed by MAPPA.
The legal change puts coercive behaviour on a par with threats to kill, stalking and attempted strangulation, hammering home the severity of coercion, said MP Jess Philips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, who hopes the move will help those in – and outside of – the justice system to take coercive control and controlling behaviour more seriously.
"Domestic abuse devastates lives and affects more than two million people every year. For the first time, under this change to the law, coercive or controlling behaviour is being placed where it belongs – on a par with serious violent offending," Philips said in a press release to media. "This is an important step to recognise the harm caused by all forms of domestic abuse, ensure the most harmful offenders are managed in the right way, and ultimately keep victims safe."
But given that a recent report found less than one in six teenage girls were able to recognise the types of behaviours that are classed as controlling, it's important that more awareness is also raised about how to spot the signs – as well as managing offenders.
Women's charities have also flagged that while this is a positive step forward, there's still a lot more work to be done when it comes to boosting women and girls' confidence in the justice system. "Many survivors are too fearful to report to the police at all, and all too often those that do are failed by the system supposed to protect them," Refuge's interim CEO, Abigail Ampofo, tells Cosmopolitan UK. "We urgently need to see radical changes to internal policing culture and the police forces’ response to domestic abuse overall."
Sadly, in 2023 the Metropolitan Police found that just 5.2% of coercive and controlling behaviour offences resulted in a charge.
She adds, "Acknowledging the seriousness of coercive control is a step in the right direction, but safety of women and girls must be placed at the heart of policing, and we will continue to call for funding to go towards mandatory and quality staff training on domestic abuse and VAWG."
What counts as coercive control?
Here, with the help of Women's Aid and Refuge, we explain some of the most common examples of coercive control in abusive relationships – if any of these sound familiar, then please visit Women's Aid or Refuge for help and more information.
Unreasonable demands
Often followed up by threats, pressure or physical restraint if you don't agree to them.
Degradation
This could be name-calling, or bullying behaviour. It can happen in subtler ways too, such as buying clothes that are purposefully too small for you to 'diet' into, or constant belittling behaviour in front of your friends, designed to make you feel worthless.
Restricting daily activities
Whether it's putting an end to your daily jog, or meeting your family. If you feel increasingly unable to carry out your normal routine, it's usually a strong signal for concern.
Threats or intimidation
If your behaviour isn't to their liking, you are threatened or intimidated into changing it. This can include sex too.
Financial control
Can include constant monitoring of your spending, or giving you an 'allowance' to live off (sometimes when it's your own money they're controlling).
Monitoring of time
Stalking your movements, unwanted contact, or being controlling about how you spend your time is a form of coercive control.
Interfering in friendships
If a partner tries telling you to cut people off, sometimes under the guise of it 'being for your own good', this may be cause for concern.
Taking your phone away
Or changing passwords to your iPad or laptop so you can't use them. This could include any form of restricting access to communication, information or services.
The same goes for restricted mobility
If you're unable to leave the house, or use your car because they won't allow it. If your partner's behaviour isolates you from friends, family or colleagues, then it's important to seek help.
Deprivation of food
Constantly – and purposefully – taking your food away, or limiting your allowance is controlling, abusive behaviour. Seek help.
Destruction of possessions
Whether it's something valuable, or emails or text messages.
What does the law say about controlling behaviour?
As a reminder, under the Section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015 (SCA 2015), controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship is a crime, which can result in up to five years of jail time.
Commenting specifically on the new change in the way perpetrators with a 12-month or more sentence relating to coercive control are handled, Gemma Lindfield, barrister at 5 St Andrew’s Hill explains that knowing they'll be under more intense supervision can mean a lot to victims/survivors.
"Coercive control can leave a victim incredibly vulnerable to the perpetrator, even if they have served a prison sentence [so it] is essential that there is expert supervision so that victims are protected," she explains. "An offender who is managed under MAPPA may be subject to various measures that are designed to protect the victim and public more generally.
"Examples are, reporting requirements, imposing conditions such as exclusion zones, requiring an offender to reside in a probation hostel. In extreme cases, the offender can be covertly monitored, which will allow probation officers to determine whether what they are saying in respect of their understanding of their offending, is translating in their every day life."
Adding to this, Ciara Pugh, Senior Associate at Stowe Family Law, points out that the changes "continue to reinforce that not all abuse is physical, and that emotional and psychological abuse can be just as damaging".
Pugh says, "Survivors no longer need to wait for physical violence to escalate before seeking legal protection. It allows for earlier intervention and can provide victims/survivors with the legal means to escape controlling relationships."
But she says there's still a lot more work to be done when it comes to ensuring more victims/survivors receive the justice they deserve. "Coercive control often involves a pattern of subtle behaviours over a long period of time. This can be difficult to evidence and harder to prove than physical violence," Pugh explains. "Cases can be lengthy and complex investigations, sometimes taking upwards of several months. In many cases, survivors are too traumatised or scared to report the abuse in the first place, never mind talking to the police or facing a court appearance.
"As a result, it has proved difficult to secure convictions. A lot more needs to be done to increase public and professional awareness of the issue and to support survivors through what can be a brutal legal process to bring about more convictions. Only then does adding offenders to Mappa have a real impact."
Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247, is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for free, confidential specialist support. You can also visit click here to request a safe time to be contacted or to access live chat (live chat available 3pm-10pm, Monday to Friday).
For confidential support or advice about coercive control, you can also contact Woman’s Aid using their live chat feature or call 0808 2000 247.
Gemma is an experienced family law barrister and is regularly instructed in all aspects of family law. Gemma is a qualified arbitrator (children).
Gemma is an experienced extradition barrister and has been involved in some of the most complex and high-profile cases. She frequently appears in the High Court on matters of complexity. She is ranked in Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 for extradition.
Gemma also appears in judicial review and public law matters and she has a particular interest in Human Rights and international cases.
