NSW victims calling out coercive control as a stand alone crime

New figures show how many times police have responded to calls since this dangerous behaviour became a crime. And experts say it shows the message is getting through to people.

The NSW Government advertising campaign to raise public awareness and understanding of coercive control. Pic Supplied.

Police have responded to 76 calls about coercive control across the state in the three months since the dangerous behaviour became a criminal offence in NSW.

Authorities say the calls to police shows the NSW Government’s awareness campaign is working and people are getting the message - that coercive control can lead to death.

The NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team found that 97 per cent of intimate partner domestic violence homicides in NSW between 2000 and 2018 were preceded by the perpetrator using coercive and controlling behaviours, such as emotional and psychological abuse, towards the victim.

As a result the NSW Government changed the law in July last year to give police more power to act.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that in 46 per cent of recorded incidents from July to September last year victims were picking up the phone and calling police, realising they were being subjected to a pattern of behaviour which may include financial abuse, threats against pets or loved ones, tracking someone’s movements, or isolating them from friends and family to control them.

The NSW Government launched a campaign to raise public awareness and understanding of coercive control.

The campaign is called “It’s not love, it’s coercive control”.

In 54 per cent of call outs there were multiple offences reported, including assault, intimidation and stalking and sexual assault.

Ninety five per cent of the victims of coercive control were female.

The NSW Government says the report from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research shows that the recent awareness campaign is working, with one in two people now understanding what coercive control is and that it’s a crime.

Among those who saw the campaign, over 75 per cent took some form of positive action such as discussing coercive control with others, reflecting on their own or other relationships or visiting the website for more information.

More people can also now correctly identify key behaviours linked to coercive control, such as threats, manipulation or monitoring someone’s movements - 21 per cent pre-campaign to 33 per cent post-campaign.

An independent study shows the campaign has been successful and more residents are aware that coercive control is a criminal offence.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Coercive control is insidious and can manifest in many ways, but it can also be easily overlooked, excused, or not recognised as abuse.

“The NSW Government remains committed to reducing domestic violence in our society because all of us have a right to feel safe, no matter where we are and who we are with.”

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said: “Coercive control in current or former intimate partner relationships is criminal behaviour that will not be tolerated in this state and is punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment.

Originally published as NSW victims calling out coercive control as a stand alone crime