Abuse claims result in few convictions
Court figures show only a handful of people have been convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour in Avon and Somerset.
This offence is a form of domestic abuse which has only been a crime since 2015.
Coercive behaviour includes assaults, threats, humiliation, and intimidation designed to punish or frighten the victim; while controlling behaviour is a pattern of acts designed to make a partner or family member subordinate and dependent. That could include isolating a victim from friends and family, telling them what to wear, where to go and who they can see, repeatedly putting them down, controlling their finances, and making threats.
Home Office figures show that 942 crimes of controlling and coercive behaviour were recorded by Avon and Somerset Police in 2021.
But of completed investigations, only 26 cases - or 3% resulted in someone being charged or summonsed to appear before a court.
In the overwhelming majority of cases (94.9%) no offender received any form of punishment for this specific crime - although as controlling and coercive behaviour is often recorded in addition to other offences it is possible they were charged with associated crimes such as stalking, assault or harassment.
In 61.8% of cases where no further action was taken that was because the victim did not support prosecution, at least for the offence of controlling or coercive behaviour.
Other reasons included problems with evidence and prosecution or further investigation not being deemed in the public interest.
Separate Ministry of Justice figures show that in 2021 just 12 people - all male - were convicted of this offence in Avon and Somerset.
Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “Women’s Aid, alongside other organisations, campaigned for the landmark legislation that criminalised coercive control in 2015. Prosecutions for coercive behaviour, however, remain disappointingly low.
“We know that women fear not being believed and worry they won’t be taken seriously when reporting abuse – especially in cases of coercive control which can be difficult to evidence. That’s why we urge police forces and the judiciary to take up regular training on coercive control, delivered by domestic abuse specialists, to better understand the dynamics of abuse.”
Nationally, police in England and Wales recorded 39,183 crimes of controlling and coercive behaviour in 2021 - and of completed investigations, only 3.6% have resulted in someone being charged or summonsed.
Court figures show that 434 people were convicted of this crime last year.
But numbers have been rising. There were 374 convictions in 2020 during the pandemic when data showed that violence against women intensified - and 305 in 2019.
A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “The police response to domestic abuse has improved dramatically in recent years and we continue to work with partners and charities to improve officers’ understanding of the devastating impact it has on victims, and on how best to respond to and investigate such cases.
“If you have experienced any type of domestic abuse, or think it may be happening to someone else, call your local police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.”
❝ We know that women fear not being believed Farah Nazeer