Dudley Domestic Abuse - Public Protection Unit Coercive Control Karl Fletcher Detective Inspector Dudley Domestic Abuse - Public Protection Unit

Coercive Control Why are we here ? To raise awareness amongst partners and professionals who support victims of domestic abuse To help recognise the signs and behaviours that are common in controlling relationships Take positive action at the earliest opportunity and reduce the risk of further harm To encourage referrals and information sharing between all partner agencies

Coercive Control Controlling and Coercive behaviour is about the perpetrator exercising POWER It is very often hidden, unreported, or discovered whilst responding to a report of physical or sexual abuse It has a devastating and long term effect on victims “A growing body of research suggests that in an estimated 60% to 80% of abuse cases, where outside help is sought or required, the physical or sexual assaults are accompanied by tactics to intimidate, humiliate, degrade, exploit, isolate, and control a partner (Evan Stark)

Coercive Control - Legislation The offence of controlling or coercive behaviour has been introduced specifically to capture abuse in an on-going relationship Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 (29TH December 2015) A person commits an offence if : Repeatedly or continuously engages in behaviour towards another person that is controlling or coercive AND at the time of the behaviour they are personally connected AND the behaviour has a serious effect on that person AND person knows or ought to know that the behaviour will have a serious effect

Coercive Control - Legislation ‘controlling or coercive’ purposeful pattern of incidents which takes place over time in order for one individual to exert power, control or coercion over another Controlling behaviour is: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim

Coercive Control - Legislation ‘personally connected’ in an intimate personal relationship previously been in an intimate personal relationship live together members of the same family (1) they are, or have been, married to each other (2) they are, or have been, civil partners of each other (3) they are relatives (4) they have agreed to marry one another (whether or not the agreement has been terminated) (5) they have entered into a civil partnership agreement (whether or not the agreement has been terminated) (6) they are both parents of the same child (7) they have, or have had, parental responsibility for the same child

Coercive Control - Legislation ‘serious effect’ Causes victim to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against them causes victim serious alarm or distress which has a substantial adverse effect on usual day-to-day activities. ‘ought to know’ that which a reasonable person in possession of the same information would know Like controlling or coercive behaviour, offences of stalking and harassment can involve a course of conduct or pattern of behaviour which causes someone to fear that violence will be used against them on at least two occasions, or which causes them serious alarm or distress to the extent it has a substantial adverse effect on their day-to-day activities. Indeed the behaviour displayed under each of these offences might be exactly the same. COMMONLY USED WHERE A RELATIONSHIP HAS ENDED.

Coercive Control - Behaviours isolation from friends and family depriving basic needs (finance, clothing, social exclusion) monitoring their time and movements monitoring online activity (checking history, using spyware) checking mobile phone for communication with ANYONE always assuming infidelity controlling aspects of their everyday life; where they can go who they can see what to wear (conservative clothing) change of appearance (new hair cut) when they can sleep

Coercive Control - Behaviours depriving access to medical and support services (GP etc) always with them at appointments ! repeatedly putting them down telling them they are worthless control of finances (ie - allowing a person a punitive allowance) threats to hurt or kill threats to a child physical assault damage to property (displaced violence - destruction of household goods) Damage to Mobile phones typical example preventing a person from having access to transport or from working

Coercive Control – Examples of Reported Crime VICTIMS FATHER REPORTED JEALOUS AND CONTROLLING OFFENDER HAS BEEN STOPPING THE VICTIM FROM SEEING OR CONTACTING FAMILY OR FRIENDS, CALLED THE VICTIM AND TEXTED HER NUMEROUS TIMES, HAS COME HOME FROM WORK TO CHECK UP ON WHAT SHE HAS BEEN DOING. CONTROLS THE JOINT BANK ACCOUNT. IF SHE WANTS ANY MONEY SHE HAS TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS WHY. VICTIM UNDER A GREAT DEAL OF STRESS, IN FEAR OF REPERCUSSIONS IF SHE DID NOT DO WHAT HE WANTED HER TO DO. 1ST REPORT TO THE POLICE - 2 ASSAULTS PREVIOUSLY UNREPORTED. VICTIMS FATHER REPORTED OFFENDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO DAUGHTERS CAR. VICTIM DISCLOSED A HISTORY OF ASSAULTS. GRABBED HER THROAT. FURTHER DISCLOSED THAT WHEN THEY WERE TOGETHER HE WOULD CONTSTANTLY CALL AND TEXT HER WHILST SHE WAS OUT WITH FRIENDS, TURNING UP UNANNOUNCED, TRIED TO REPEATEDY HACK INTO HER SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT, CAUSING DISTRESS. SHE FELT CONTROLLED. FELT THAT SHE COULD NOT GO OUT WHEN THEY WERE IN A RELATIONSHIP.

Coercive Control – Examples of Reported Crime VICTIM ENDED RELATIONSHIP. DISCLOSED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE OFFENDER HAD ASSAULTED HER CAUSING SWELLING AND BRUSING TO FACE AND BODY. GRABBED HER AROUND THE THROAT RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. THROUGHOUT THE RELATIONSHIP THE OFFENDER TRIED TO MANIPULATE AND CONTROL THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE VICTIM INCLUDING CONTROLLING FINANCES. NO LONGER TOGETHER, OFFENDER INTIMIDATING VIA EMAIL, PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ASSAULT BUT WITHDREW COMPLAINT. VICTIM SUBJECTED TO CONSTANT VERBAL ABUSE THREATS OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BY MOTHER IN LAW (BEEN IN UK SEVERAL YEARS). FORCED TO EAT, NOT ALLOWED FRIENDS, NOT ALLOWED OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR LONG PERIODS. MOTHER IN LAW HAS CONTROLLED ALL FINANCES, NEVER ALLOWED VICTIM TO HAVE HER OWN BANK ACCOUNT OR MONEY, CONTROLLED MONEY FOR THE CHILDREN. VICTIM FEARED FOR HER SAFETY, VERY ISOLATED AND STRESSED. DISOWNED BY FAMILY AND SUBSEQUENT REATRACTION OF COMPLAINT. VICTIM SAFE IN REFUGE ACCOMMODATION.

Case Study Victim : Mother (65) - in poor health with a history of depression and cancer Perpetrator : Son (29) – ‘Carer’ and Cocaine user Over a period of 4 years son repeatedly demanded money, asked her to be guarantor on substantial loans, failed to pay. Became aggressive when demands for money were denied, damaged property of the victim (mobile and household items) Reported by another family member In debt by £20k Sold family car and used victim’s credit card to obtain £8k worth of property, sold to buy drugs Due to spiralling debts 3 loans obtained online Victim continued to fund drug habit on a weekly basis

Case Study Never used any physical force towards the victim One previously reported domestic argument over money 2 years prior The victim described being controlled, coerced into giving the suspect money, and in fear of violence and property damage. “I didn’t know what to do, when I refused to give him money he would lose his temper, he punched a hole in the bedroom wall …. he would make threats that people would come to the house and hurt me … after all he is my son so I would do my best to help him” VICTIM PERSONAL STATEMENT “This is making me feel isolated and lonely as I am no longer able to have a social life of my own due to giving him all of my money. I have had cancer several times in the last few years and he was supposed to be my Carer. He has mistreated me and left me feeling very vulnerable”

Case Study - Result Remanded into Custody Convicted for Engaging in Coercive Control and Behaviour Received 3 Year Community Order Now in paid employment Paying off debts Drug free COLLEGE OF POLICING VIDEO HERE - 3 MINUTES

What can you do ? Recognise signs and triggers Compared to victims of stalking and harassment or physical abuse, those experiencing coercive control are less likely to report it to the police, instead preferring to speak to family/friends, health professionals or work colleagues. Record accurate information to support prosecution evidence Refer to support services (ie - Women’s Aid) 89% of domestic abuse victims referred to an IDVA service experience jealous and controlling behaviour and / or stalking and harassment Let police know Call 101 Contact the Domestic Violence Team for advice Complete DASH risk assessment – refer to MARAC Coordinator http://www.safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Coercive%20control%20guidance%20for%20MARACs.pdf http://www.safelives.org.uk/practice_blog/tips-domestic-abuse-practitioners-helping-other-agencies-respond-coercive-control

Although Ivy isn’t her real name, this is Ivy’s voice and not that of an actress

www. west-midlands. police www.west-midlands.police.uk/advice-centre/help-and-advice/domestic-abuse/coercive-control Cover your tracks Click the ‘Close this page’ button on the right to quickly hide this page. Also be aware of who is around, or who might come into the room, while you are looking at this website. Could you use a computer at a local library, an internet café, a friend’s house or at work instead of your home computer? Your internet browser will record a history of the websites you visit. Remember to clear this history when you’ve finished – here’s some advice on how to do this . Be aware that deleting your entire browsing history can look suspicious – perhaps just delete the websites you don’t want someone else to know you’ve looked at. Clearing cookies can also mean information such as online banking passwords will no longer be saved and again, this could arouse suspicion when another person uses the computer. Many browsers can offer ‘private’ or ‘incognito’ browsing options. This won’t be the case on a computer at work but could help give you more security at home.

Any Questions ? k.fletcher@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk