Coercive Control

Our family lawyers help victims of coercive control to understand their legal rights and take decisive steps to reclaim their safety and wellbeing.

Are you suffering from a pattern of manipulative behaviour by your partner, which you deem to be unreasonable and which you fear could lead to other forms of abuse?

This could be ‘coercive control’, which became a criminal offence in 2015 carrying a maximum of five years’ imprisonment.

Coercive control is defined as a strategic form of ongoing oppression which is used by a partner to instil fear. It is a continuous campaign of tactics – such as isolation, financial abuse and gaslighting – designed to deprive you of your independence.

We support victims in breaking the cycle of coercive control and restoring their independence. Our solicitors are true family law specialists who practice solely in this complex field.

We’ll help you know where you stand legally and put together a roadmap for resolving the situation sensitively, strategically and effectively.

What is coercive control?

Coercive control is defined as an intentional ongoing pattern of psychological, emotional or physical behaviour intended to exert power over a partner and make them dependent on the perpetrator.

The abuse does not have to be physical or sexual. Coercive control can include subtle behavioural or social elements, so it can be hard to identify. Through regulating daily activities, finances and freedom, the victim is deprived of support and liberty.

Coercive control can happen in any type of relationship, but it is often rooted in an imbalance of power. 60-80% of women who report forms of physical or sexual abuse have also suffered from coercive control.

By its very nature, coercive control can instil fear, confusion and self-doubt that pervades all areas of the victim’s life. This can make it difficult to be clear about what is taking place. Preparing a safe route out of the situation for you and your family can feel overwhelming.

What are the signs of coercive control?

There are clear indications that the relationship you are in has spiralled towards coercive control, even if you have received no physical harm and the relationship is not necessarily ‘toxic’.

Common examples of behaviour associated with coercive control include:

• Isolation: You are isolated from your support system of family and friends.
• Monitoring daily life: Your daily activity is monitored (potentially using digital tools or spyware), known as invasive surveillance.
• Controlling daily life: Aspects of your life are controlled, such as where you can go, what you can eat, who you can see and what you can wear.
• Loss of freedom: Your freedom and autonomy is being denied – this can include your right to make choices about your own health or body.
• Financial abuse: You are restricted in how you can access money, how you spend money and how savings and investments are managed.
• Emotional abuse: You may experience non-physical behaviours that are meant to isolate or frighten you, such as name-calling, shaming, excessive jealousy, manipulation, humiliation, intimidation, dismissiveness, gaslighting or parental alienation.

Not all of these common behaviours have to occur for a case to be recognised as coercive control.

What are my options when faced with coercive control?

Coercive control can become a reportable offence if:

• You are fearful that the behaviour will turn to other forms of abuse against you or your children.
• The behaviour is sustained and substantial and is deemed as unreasonable because it is affecting your mental or physical health.

You could report this matter to the police, but it is also vital to talk to a family law specialist with specific expertise in assisting with domestic abuse, such as Harrogate Family Law. We will clearly and concisely explain your legal standing and help you put a roadmap together for regaining your independence.

A family law specialist supports you in breaking the cycle of abuse by securing legal protections, such as non-molestation or occupation orders. We’ll work alongside specialist support networks to identify a safe path forward for you and any children, if necessary.

How do I prove coercive control?

Criminal and family courts will look for a wider pattern of sustained behaviour intended to limit freedom, rather than isolated incidents.

Common types of evidence can include personal diaries (dates, times and places of incidents), digital and financial records (text messages, phone recordings, social media posts, emails or bank statements), medical reports (from visits to GPs, therapists or counsellors) and witness statements (from friends, relatives, neighbours and co-workers).

Organising this information in a log, including screenshots, can help to prove coercive control. A family law solicitor will be able to guide you through this entire process, including how best to collate and present any evidence.

Harrogate Family Law: helping survivors of coercive control take the next step

Whatever you’re going through, you’re not alone. Recognised in Legal 500 as a Leading Firm and ‘a considerable force in family law within Yorkshire’, we’re by your side.

As a specialist firm practising exclusively in family law, we draw on extensive expertise to handle coercive control cases sensitively and strategically.

Our ‘exceptionally strong team of experienced lawyers’ blends compassion with legal expertise, and we are proud to be rated ‘Excellent’ by our clients.

Contact us today to arrange a confidential initial consultation and take the first step towards a safer, more independent future.

This can take place remotely or at our welcoming central Harrogate office – whatever is most comfortable and convenient for you.