If you are in an abusive relationship and you are being controlled or manipulated by someone, our experienced family law solicitors can take steps to protect you.
Coercive control is a criminal offence. We can also take civil action to deal with the issue. Our services include:
- Non-molestation order, which is an injunction to protect you from your abuser
- Occupation order, to protect you in your home
- Advice on dealing with an abusive situation
- Advice and representation in divorce, to include protecting you and your children
If you need help, call us today and we will provide you with the support and guidance you need.
Recognising Coercive Control and Abuse
It is not always easy to identify when coercive control starts, but over time, it can become a pattern of behaviour designed to isolate and manipulate someone.
Warnings signs include:
- Isolation from friends and family
- Financial control and financial monitoring
- Forcing someone to commit a criminal offence, such as shoplifting or fraud, will give the abuser further power over the victim
- Monitoring and controlling where someone is and where they can go
- Control of someone’s online activities or access to a phone
- Following someone or checking where they are
- Controlling or preventing access to transport
- Controlling aspects of daily life such as clothing, sleep and food
- Gaslighting, or trying to make someone doubt themselves
- Humiliating or belittling someone
- Threats to harm or kill a child or pet
- Preventing access to support services
- Psychological and emotional abuse, such as threats or intimidation
The behaviour will be a repeated or continuous pattern of one or more types of control.
What is Coercive Control?
Coercive control is a type of domestic abuse that aims to deprive someone of independence and put them under the control of the abuser. It can be hard for a victim to find a way out or to ask for help, as the abuser will aim to reduce their capacity for independent action and rational thought.
It is a criminal offence under Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015, which states that
the offence of coercive control is committed by a suspect (“A”) against a victim (“B”) if:
- A repeatedly or continuously engages in behaviour towards another person, B, that is controlling or coercive
- at the time of the behaviour, A and B are personally connected
- the behaviour has a serious effect on B, and
- A knows or ought to know that the behaviour will have a serious effect on B
An abuser and victim are ‘personally connected’ if they:
- Are or have been married to each other
- Are or have been civil partners of each other
- Have agreed to marry one another
- Have entered into a civil partnership agreement with each other
- Are or have been in an intimate personal relationship with each other
- Each has or has had a parental relationship with respect to the same child; or
- Are relatives
A ‘serious effect’ is either where:
- The behaviour caused the victim to fear violence on at least two occasions; or
- Serious alarm and distress caused by the abuser’s behaviour have had a substantial adverse effect on the victim’s usual day-to-day activities
A substantial adverse effect can include:
- A deterioration in physical or mental health
- No longer socialising or withdrawing from activities such as physical exercise
- The need for measures to safeguard themselves or their children
- No longer eating properly
- Changing work patterns, employment or the route to work
Victims may seem to consent to the abuse. This can be to cope or to protect children.
Domestic Abuse in Divorce Cases
If you are considering divorce, our family law team can represent you while also taking action to protect you from coercive control and other forms of domestic abuse.
It is no longer necessary to apportion blame when applying to the courts for a divorce. You simply need to state that your relationship has irretrievably broken down.
To take the first steps in protecting yourself and your family, contact us today and we will do all we can to help. We are experienced in assisting victims of domestic abuse and coercive control and our team members will deal sensitively with your case, providing you with the advice and representation you need.
What are the Signs and How to Help with Coercive Control in Divorce
If you suspect that a friend or relative is experiencing coercive control in their relationship, you need to approach the situation with care.
Try to speak to them in a safe and private environment if you can. You can ask them if everything is alright and tell them if you are concerned that they are not themselves.
Listen and be receptive to what is being said, without judgment. Victims often fear that they will not be listened to or believed.
Make sure they know that you are there for them, whenever needed. A common thread of coercive control is the isolation of victims so that they do not have any support or anyone to turn to.
Do not try to force them to leave or do anything that they are not comfortable doing. They will have to make this decision in their own time and the best way of helping is to make sure that they know you are there for them when they need you.
Encourage them to speak to professionals. This could be a domestic support line and/or an experienced domestic violence solicitor.
How to Get Support for Coercive Control
There are various services available to support those experiencing domestic abuse:
- The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) offers free, 24-hour assistance.
- Refuge provides comprehensive information and resources on its website.
- Shelter helps individuals find refuge and access support services.
- Women's Aid offers dedicated support for women and children affected by domestic abuse, while the Men’s Advice Line provides advice and help for men in similar situations.
These services offer crucial guidance and support for those in need.
Contact Our Divorce Solicitors
If you have experienced coercive control or another type of domestic abuse, contact us today and our experienced family law solicitors will do all they can to help. For more information, see our family law page.
To speak with one of our expert divorce solicitors, call us on 0330 173 3980, email info@witansolicitors.co.uk, or complete our contact form. We'll discuss your situation and explore how we can assist.
