Coercive, controlling behaviour within relationships, now a crime
20 Dec 2014 11:43 PM GMT
A new landmark law announced by the home secretary on Thursday has made “coercive and controlling behaviour within relationships” a new domestic abuse offence.
The maximum penalty for the new offence in England and Wales will be five years in prison and a fine. This is part of Britain’s plan to make emotional abuse a criminal offence.
Home secretary Theresa May said domestic abuse by intimate partners or family members was a hideous crime. She hopes that the new law would protect victims from extreme psychological and emotional abuse. May said “Coercive control can be tantamount to torture.
In many cases, dominance over the victim develops and escalates over the years until the perpetrator has complete control. Putting a foot wrong can result in violent outbursts, with victims living in fear for their lives”.
Data shows that currently, victims do not contact police until they have suffered, on average, 30 incidents of domestic abuse.
The maximum penalty for the new offence in England and Wales will be five years in prison and a fine. This is part of Britain’s plan to make emotional abuse a criminal offence.
Home secretary Theresa May said domestic abuse by intimate partners or family members was a hideous crime. She hopes that the new law would protect victims from extreme psychological and emotional abuse. May said “Coercive control can be tantamount to torture.
In many cases, dominance over the victim develops and escalates over the years until the perpetrator has complete control. Putting a foot wrong can result in violent outbursts, with victims living in fear for their lives”.
Data shows that currently, victims do not contact police until they have suffered, on average, 30 incidents of domestic abuse.
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