How to Prove Coercive Control: Practical Steps

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of coercive control as a form of domestic abuse. Unlike physical violence, coercive control operates through psychological manipulation and domination, leaving victims trapped in a cycle of fear and dependency. Understanding how to prove coercive control is crucial for victims seeking justice and authorities aiming to provide adequate protection.

Understanding Coercive Control Legislation

Legislation addressing coercive control varies across different jurisdictions. The Serious Crime Act 2015 criminalizes coercive or controlling behavior in intimate or familial relationships in the United Kingdom. Similarly, Ireland passed the Domestic Violence Act 2018, which recognizes coercive control as a form of abuse. Australia has also taken steps to address coercive control, with several states introducing or considering legislation to criminalize this behavior.

These laws provide a legal framework for identifying and prosecuting coercive control. However, proving coercive control in court can be challenging due to its covert nature and the lack of physical evidence. Therefore, it’s essential to understand what constitutes coercive control and how it manifests in relationships.

Recognizing Coercive Control

Coercive control is characterized by a pattern of behavior aimed at exerting power and control over another person. This could include:

• Isolating you from friends or family.
• Monitoring you online or in person.
• Depriving you of everyday needs like food, electricity, or heating.
• Controlling your finances.
• Controlling aspects of your daily life, such as what you wear, how much you eat, where you go, when to be home, and when you can sleep.
• Sexually coercing you.
• Enforcing activities that humiliate or degrade you.
• Denying you access to services such as medical support or transport.
• Threatening you, your children, your pets, or themselves.
• Gaslighting, a form of psychological abuse that distorts your reality.
• Physically intimidating or attacking you.
• Damaging or threatening to damage your reputation.
• Lowering your self-esteem through name-calling or insults. 

Research shows that coercive control often escalates over time, leading to severe psychological harm for the victim. According to a study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 2.3 million adults aged 16 to 74 experienced domestic abuse in the UK in the year ending March 2021. Of these, 1.6 million experienced non-physical abuse, including coercive control.

How to Prove Coercive Control

Proving coercive control requires gathering evidence to demonstrate the ongoing pattern of abusive behavior. While each case is unique, there are steps individuals can take to substantiate their claims:

1. Document Incidents: Keep a meticulous record of incidents, including dates, times, and descriptions of abusive behavior. It’s crucial to record not only the overt acts of control or manipulation but also the subtler forms of coercion, such as psychological intimidation or gaslighting. By maintaining a detailed log, individuals can provide a chronological account of the abuse, which can be invaluable in legal proceedings.
2. Corroborate Your Account: Gather corroborating evidence to support your claims. This can include text messages, emails, voicemails, phone records, or social media interactions demonstrating the perpetrator’s coercive behavior.
3. Audio or video footage, such as from CCTV cameras. Before recording anyone, be sure to review your country’s laws regarding secret recordings. If permissible, consider using technology to record audio or video of abusive incidents. Ensure that any recordings are securely stored and protected.
4. Professional Reports or Testimony: Reach out to professionals who can provide expert testimony or documentation of the abuse. This may include mental health professionals, counselors, or domestic violence advocates who can assess the impact of coercive control on your well-being and provide written reports or testimony to support your case.
5. Police Reports: Secure copies of any police reports you have filed. You can also request call logs or transcripts of calls made to emergency services.
6. Technology Report: If you discover devices like GPS trackers, hacking software, spyware, hidden cameras, or any other technology designed to monitor or stalk you, seek an expert’s examination and arrange for a detailed report to be prepared.
7. Collect Witness Statements: If individuals have witnessed the abusive behavior or its effects on you, ask them to provide written statements detailing what they observed. Witnesses can include friends, family members, neighbors, or colleagues who have seen or heard evidence of the perpetrator’s coercive tactics. These statements can add credibility to your allegations and strengthen your case.
8. Financial Records: Keep meticulous records of financial transactions and evidence of economic abuse. This may include bank statements, receipts, or documentation of coerced financial agreements, such as loans taken out in your name without your consent. By documenting instances of financial control or exploitation, you can illustrate how the perpetrator has used economic means to exert power and control over you.
9. Medical Records: Document any physical or psychological injuries resulting from the abuse and maintain a record of medical reports, photographs, and notes from healthcare professionals. This evidence can help substantiate the severity of the abuse and its impact on your health and well-being. Additionally, seek medical attention for any injuries or symptoms related to the abuse, ensuring that they are adequately documented and treated.

Learning how to prove coercive control is essential for combating this insidious form of domestic abuse. By understanding the legal framework, recognizing the signs of coercive control, and gathering evidence, victims can take proactive steps to protect themselves and seek justice.

References

An Garda Siochana. Domestic abuse.

CPS. Controlling or Coercive Behaviour in an Intimate or Family Relationship.

Divorce Hub. How to Prove Coercive Control in Court.

Women’s Aid. Coercive Control Law.

Featured image: Police question a man. Source: Krakenimages.com / Adobe Stock.