AAC - Relationships - Difficult Relationships & Challenging Dynamics - Coercive Behaviour - Q3 (Alessandra)

What role does law play in defining coercion?

Transcript

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Coercive control became a criminal offence in England and Wales under the Serious Crime Act 2015, specifically Section 76. It covers behaviour within an intimate or family relationship, so it applies to partners, ex-partners, and certain family members too. And the law recognises that abuse isn't always physical, it can be a pattern of behaviour that builds someone's control over another person's daily life, finances, social contact or sense of self. For something to meet the legal definition, a few things generally need to be true. So the behaviour has to be repeated or continuous, so not a single one-off incident. It has to happen between people who are personally connected, and it has to have a serious effect on the person experiencing it. And that serious effect is usually shown in one of two ways. Either it causes someone to fear violence on more than one occasion, or it causes serious alarm or distress that has a real impact on day-to-day life. Things like changing routines, withdrawing from friends, or struggling with basic activities. Now if you're trying to make sense of your own situation, it can help to notice patterns rather than focusing on one incident in isolation. So ask yourself whether certain behaviours have become unspoken rules in a relationship and whether breaking those rules leads to consequences, even just emotional ones. As you don't need to label everything perfectly to know that something doesn't feel right. Now in terms of next steps, if you are trying to understand your situation more clearly, it can help to start keeping a private record of what's actually happening. So dates, what was said or done, and how it made you feel, as this isn't about building a legal case necessarily, but rather about helping you see the bigger picture more clearly, especially because coercive control can be confusing and easy to second guess and doubt yourself. And if you do decide to talk to someone, then organizations like the National Domestic Abuse Helpline or other local domestic abuse services can talk you through what your options are, including whether what you're experiencing might meet a legal threshold. Now if you're finding it hard to cope with the emotional impact of this, whether that's anxiety, low mood or feeling stuck, then speaking to a GP or a therapist can be a good place to start, as they can support you with the impact, separate from any decisions about reporting or leaving the situation. Now you can find more support and resources around difficult relationships and coercive behaviour in the app. If you're thinking about harming yourself and feeling safe, then please seek urgent help now by contacting your local emergency number or a crisis helpline.