Coercive control is an insidious form of domestic abuse. In 2021, the UK government amended the Domestic Abuse Bill to ensure that all victims of controlling and coercive behaviour are protected. However, do current coercive control laws actually provide protection for all?

We watch family law developments very closely. In particular, the issue of coercive control has caught our attention in recent months. The government has been urged to review coercive control laws for years. In response to family legal professionals and victims of controlling and coercive behaviour, amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill have been made.

But are they enough, and do they really protect ‘all’ victims?

What is coercive control?

A woman on a phone sat next to a bed looking scared amid domestic abuse.

Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour that threatens, intimidates, manipulates, and humiliates victims. It’s used to harm, punish, or frighten the person(s) targeted. On a bigger scale, coercive control seeks to limit a victim’s human rights by depriving them of their freedom and making them fearful to take action.

Women’s Aid campaigned hard, and succeeded, to make coercive control a criminal offence. Police can now arrest perpetrators – who could face up to five years in prison and a fine.

Are coercive control laws really for all?

A woman threatening to hit a man by exercising coercive control and controlling behaviour.

You might be wondering why we’re posing this question. The answer lies in government statements made about the amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill concerning coercive control.

Here’s part of a statement made by current UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak:

“No woman or girl should ever have to feel unsafe in her home or community and I am determined to stamp out these appalling crimes.”

You can read the full statement here.

But notice, his comments make no reference to men or boys, who are also victims of coercive control.

That’s not us diminishing the fact that the majority of coercive control victims are women and girls, and men are the most likely perpetrators.

In the year ending March 2022, there were 41,626 offences of coercive control recorded by the police in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics. Year on year, this number has increased. In the year ending March 2021, the figure was 33,954, while in the year ending March 2020, the number was 24,856.

In a large number of these cases, the perpetrators were men or boys (those aged under 18).

However, the language used in Sunak’s statement assumes that men or boys are not on the receiving end of coercive control, when in fact recent research shows that more than a third of men in the UK (34%) have admitted to being a victim of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Sunak’s comments also imply that coercive control is exclusive to heterosexual relationships by seemingly suggesting that men are controlling women or girls. However, coercive control happens in same-sex relationships too.

Breaking the stereotypes

We welcome the amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill to strengthen the powers that can be used by authorities to tackle coercive control. However, more needs to be done to break the stereotype that this is a male driven issue.

This has to happen if coercive control laws are going to truly apply to all.

Support for coercive control victims

Whether you are in a heterosexual or same-sex relationship or you’re experience controlling or coercive behaviour from a close family member, Holland Family Law is here to help you end the cycle of abuse. We’re professional, discreet and hear to listen to help you find a way out.

The best thing you can do is find a way to communicate with us.

If your every movement is being monitored, we appreciate that can be hard, but we’re available on the phone – 0116 436 2170, email –office@hollandfamilylaw.co.uk and social media messaging – you can reach us on Facebook or LinkedIn.