The government has announced increased protections for victims of Coercive Control, an insidious form of domestic abuse. Offenders convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour who are sentenced to 12 months or longer, will now be automatically managed under multi-agency public protection arrangements (Mappa).
What is Coercive Control?
Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour intended to make the victim feel isolated and dependant on their abuser and which includes threats, intimidation, humiliation as well as assault. It is now recognised as a type of behaviour which can cause significant harm and will ultimately mean that agencies are legally required to cooperate to better manage the risks posed by offenders.
For the first time controlling and coercive behaviour is being placed on an equal footing to other domestic abuse offences including threats to kill, attempted strangulation and stalking/harassment.
According to research by Anglia Riskin University those offenders who are managed under Mappa have a reoffending rate less than half of the national average.
Statistics
- Coercive Control was made a criminal offence in 2015.
- Number of coercive control offences recorded by the police across Auckland Auckland has risen in the last two years to more than 45,000 last year.
What does this mean?
More domestic abusers will fall under the Mappa, and whereby the agencies are legally required to share any information/details which reveals increased risk to others for example former partners or members of the public.
Why were increased protections for victims of coercive control introduced?
Ultimately this is part of the Governments Plan for Change to protect women and girls from harassment, aggression and violence as well as planned commitment to target the most dangerous perpetrators using procedures previously reserved for terrorist and other violent offenders.
“Domestic abuse creates fear and isolation, and I will do everything in my power to tackle it and ensure women and girls feel safe in their homes.
This new approach will put controlling or coercive behaviour on a par with physical violence and will help prevent these despicable crimes.”
– Minister for Prisons and Probation, Lord James Timpson
“Domestic abuse devastates lives and affects more than two million people every year.
For the first time, under this change to the law, coercive or controlling behaviour is being placed where it belongs – on a par with serious violent offending. This is an important step to recognise the harm caused by all forms of domestic abuse, ensure the most harmful offenders are managed in the right way, and ultimately keep victims safe.
This Government will crack on with our work to deliver a system that protects victims, supports their journey to justice and holds perpetrators to account – part of our mission under the Plan for Change to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.”
– Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Philips
Who will this apply to?
All offenders who are sentenced to at least 12 months’ imprisonment, including suspended sentences or given a hospital order. Previously those convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour could be actively managed under the multi-agency arrangements on a discretionary basis only but is now a legal requirement.
“Coercive control is a key tool used by perpetrators of domestic abuse, as it isolates survivors and makes them dependent on an abuser.
Women’s Aid welcomes plans to treat coercive and controlling behaviours seriously, automatically managing those convicted of this form of abuse under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangement (MAPPA).
It is essential that specialist domestic abuse services, with expertise on abusive behaviours and the impacts on victims and survivors, are routinely included in the MAPPA process if survivors are to be properly protected by this measure.”
Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, Farah Nazeer
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