Dorset police has launched a new domestic abuse campaign today to raise awareness of coercive and controlling behaviour and other various forms of control that could be abusive.
The campaign has come into action after a rise in reported domestic abuse incidents after the Christmas and New Years period.
Coercive and controlling behaviour is emotional and psychological abuse, which is a criminal offence.
Coercive behaviour can be identified as a pattern of assaults, threats, humiliation, intimidation and any other form of abusive acts that are used to punish or harm their victim.
Controlling behaviour can be spotted by detecting a range of acts which makes the victim submissive and subordinate which leaves them dependant on the abuser.
With controlling behaviour, the victim is often isolated and is deprived of independence making them less likely to want to escape or resist.
Last year Dorset Police released some videos about how to spot and react to abuse.
Dorset police said:
“Dorset Police is committed to ensuring incidents of domestic abuse are dealt with appropriately, robustly and in a way which puts the safeguarding of victims and their families at the heart of our response.”
For help and advice about domestic abuse, including information about both police and non-police support across Dorset:
National Domestic Abuse Helpline on: 0808 2000 247
Call 101 to speak to police. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Dorset Victims’ Bureau Tel: 01202 222799.
Dorset’s NHS 111 service expected to be brought in-house