Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 made Controlling or Coercive Behaviour in an Intimate or Family Relationship an offence.
Coercive or controlling behaviour in an intimate or family relationship includes:
- Threats - including threats of violence - to the victim, children, other family members
- Harming or making threats to harm pets
- Insisting on accompanying the victim everywhere
- Listening to telephone calls, conversations
- Making the victim stay at home, not letting them socialise or work
- Making the victim do things they don't want to do - such as taking drugs, stealing, sexual acts
- Using 'spy ware' to monitor the victim via technology such as mobile phone usage and location, car location, cameras - this is also called 'tech abuse'
These are just examples, there are lots more in the column opposite.
Controlling and coercive behaviour causes someone to fear that violence will be used against them or causes them serious alarm or distress which has a substantial adverse effect on their usual day-to-day activities.
The maximum penalty is five years imprisonment.
Women's Aid have a useful guide on recognising domestic abuse in all its forms
Jennifer Perry from the Digital Trust has provided the document below that identifies coercive control behaviours