Coercive Control and Economic Abuse
Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation, intimidation or other abuse.
This controlling behaviour isolates victims from support, exploits them, stops them being independent and is used to frighten, threaten or harm the victim.
Signs of coercive control can include:
- Isolating victims from friends and family
- Monitoring the victim’s time, communications and finances
- Controlling aspects of their life like where they can go, who they can see, what they can wear and when they can sleep
- Stopping them from accessing support such as medical services
- Humiliating, degrading or dehumanising them
- Making threats or intimidating them
Economic abuse is when someone uses money to control their partner. It can also include restricting access to essentials like food, clothing or transport, and stopping people from improving their economic situation (for example through employment, education or training).
It can be a barrier to leaving, as having no money makes people feel they have no choice but to stay with an abuser.
Signs of economic abuse can include:
- Controlling the family income or refusing to contribute to it
- Not allowing victims to spend money unless ‘permitted’ or making them account for every pound they spend
- Running up huge bills in their name or purposely missing payments
- Interfering with their education, training, or employment
- Not allowing them access to a mobile phone/car/utilities
- Denying them money for food or controlling what they eat
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship and you don’t know what to do, please contact us. We will listen and we can help.
Doncaster Domestic Abuse Hub – 01302 737080
IDAS Barnsley – 03000 110 110
IDAS Sheffield – 0808 808 2241
Rotherham Rise – 0330 2020571
National 24 Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247
If there is immediate danger, please call 999, or 101 to report an incident of domestic abuse.
To download these leaflets for printing please click on this link – Domestic Abuse Campaign – A5 Leaflets