Psychologically abusive partners can now face five years of imprisonment under the amended Serious Crime Bill of 2015. The new law makes a 'landmark moment' in the fight against domestic abuse.
Emotional or psychological bullies found guilty of exhibiting controlling behaviour can be sentenced to five years of jail time or be given a huge fine with an amendment in the Serious Crime Bill. Under the new law, those who show any form of emotional or psychological abuse to their partners can be charged with a criminal offence. The abused individual can report the crime up to two years after it was committed, instead of only six months.
Independent reported that the amended bill was implemented to fight psychological abuse even without physical harm inflicted. However, the offender's actions must have 'serious effect' on the victim that it affects daily activities, before the law could take effect.
The amended law defines coercive behaviour as an 'act or pattern of acts which are used to harm, punish, or frighten a victim'. These could include withholding money from a partner, forbidding them from seeing friends and family members, controlling their social media and bank accounts, and even spying on their lives.
Psychological bullies can be convicted using documentary evidence like threatening texts, emails, and even bank statements, reported Daily Mail. Alison Saunders, Public Prosecutions Director, said that coercive and controlling behaviour violates basic human rights. It restricts domestic abuse victims of their independence and their freedom of communication and movement.
Women's Aid chief executive Polly Neate said that the amendment to the Serious Crime Bill is a 'landmark moment' in fighting domestic abuse. She added, "Coercive control is at the heart of domestic abuse."
In its website, Women's Aid wrote that coercive behaviour can be mistaken as romantic. In order to educate the youth and parents about coercive control, the charity organization launched a coercive control toolkit with Avon. The toolkit helps adults see signs of coercive behaviour and foster healthy relationships between partners. It gives information about coercive control, its effect on children, and what to do in such cases.
Of the toolkit, Neate said, "...it is vital that we educate young people and teenagers on what a healthy relationship is, and why parents must be empowered to spot the signs of coercive control. The toolkit is a fantastic way for anyone to educate themselves on coercive control..."
Studies have shown that around 16% of men and 30% of women have undergone domestic abuse. The new law against coercive control can help identify and address other forms of domestic abuse aside from physical violence.
