Coercive control is now recognised as the behaviour that underpins domestic abuse. It is a pattern of behaviour which seeks to take away the victim’s sense of self, minimising their freedom of action and violating their human rights.
The Serious Crime Act 2015 creates a new offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in intimate or familial relationships (section 76). The new offence closes a gap in the law around patterns of controlling or coercive behaviour in an ongoing relationship between intimate partners or family members. This website brings together a set of resources to support social workers to put the law into practice.
Resources on this site include:
- A set of five case studies with learning activities which can be adapted and used in your own CPD programme.
- Tools for professional development.
- Tools for supporting effective, reflective practice.
- Background reading and information.
This resource was commissioned by the Chief Social Worker’s Office at the Department of Health, and produced by Research in Practice for Adults and Women’s Aid.
Video: Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults, introduces the materials on this website.
You can read the full transcript for this video.
Video: Polly Neate, CEO of Women’s Aid, introduces coercive control. This video is also broken into segments; please go to the Video resources page to view each one.
You can read the full transcript for this video.
