Coronation Street storyline – controlling and coercive behaviour
by Rayner Grice, Clarke Willmott
TV soap Coronation Street has been detailing the relationship between Todd Grimshaw and his boyfriend Theo Silverton and highlighting the domestic abuse that Todd has been suffering at Theo’s hands.
The storyline has focused on the subtle offence of controlling and coercive behaviour. Recent episodes have seen Theo manipulate Todd’s thinking. In a recent episode Theo smashed Todd’s face into a mirror causing him to seek hospital treatment but then viewers saw Theo manipulate his actions to try to convince Todd that he had fallen and created the injury himself.
Viewers have also seen Theo emotionally blackmailing Todd and manipulating Todd’s confidence. Matters come to a head next week and this highly significant storyline highlights an area of domestic abuse that is so very real for large numbers of people.
Christmas is a particularly difficult time as the festive period can highlight and intensify already tense relationships.
Controlling and coercive behaviour is subtle and slowly escalates over a prolonged period of time. In the majority of cases the sufferer is genuinely unaware of what is happening as it becomes a normal part of the relationship and they begin to question their own thinking and actions as the offender manipulates their confidence and convinces them through a subtle series of longer term acts that they are the ones to blame.
The perpetrator of such behaviour may limit the sufferer’s ability to either recognise the behaviour or seek help by attempting to restrict their contact with friends or family as well as reducing their independence. Such behaviour may include:
isolating the person from their friends and family
depriving them of their basic needs
monitoring their time
monitoring the person via online communication tools or using spyware
taking control of aspects of their everyday life such as where they can go, who they can see, what to wear and when they can sleep
depriving them of access to support services such as specialist support or medical services
repeatedly putting them down such as telling them they are worthless
adopting a victim mentality so that the sufferer feels they are to blame
enforcing rules and activities which humiliate, degrade or dehumanise the sufferer
financial abuse including control of finances
threats to a child
criminal damage
assault
rape
The list is not exhaustive and controlling and coercive behaviour does not only happen in the home. Whilst statistics report that 92 per cent of sufferers are female the Coronation Street storyline highlights that males are just as likely to be subjected to such behaviour. The statistics don’t show that males find it less easy to seek assistance or even acknowledge that they are sufferers.
How the Family Courts deal with cases involving domestic abuse but particularly controlling and coercive behaviour
The difficulty with this type of behaviour is that due to the subtlety and long-term effect of the behaviour the sufferer firstly has to be able to recognise the behaviour but secondly have the ability to break free and seek help. As the very nature of the offence is so deep rooted in control there needs to be in-depth therapeutic assistance offered to the sufferers so they can receive the utmost support in avoiding going back into the same situation they were trying to leave.
In particular sufferers are very reluctant to seek any form of help through either legal channels or police assistance. They have been told over a very long period of time they would simply not be believed. However, support can include making applications for Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders which can provide protection from violence and harassment.
Of particular sensitivity is dealing with these matters when there are children involved.
Perpetrators will commonly use the children to convince the sufferer that they will lose their children. That is part of the abuse but urgent applications can be made to regulate arrangements for the children including Prohibited Steps Orders preventing any immediate contact between the perpetrator and the children.
In circumstances where there are domestic abuse allegations the Court has to be very careful to ensure the allegations are considered fully and identified at a very early stage as they are likely to be relevant to any decision relating to the welfare of the child. The Court views that domestic abuse is harmful to children as they may face direct physical, psychological and/or emotional harm from living in homes or witnessing domestic abuse.
Key to ensuring security and stability for the child and for the parent is having early, clear and strong legal advice as to the options available as well as seeking support from advisers who have a clear understanding of the subtle behaviours that make up this offence. It is crucial to obtain early advice as decisions made in the initial stages when sufferers are trying to escape the controlling environment can be critical to securing the safety of the sufferer and the children.
Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton. For more information visit www.clarkewillmott.com
Rayner Grice is a Partner and National Head of the Family Law Team at Clarke Willmott based in Birmingham recognised for her expertise in working with domestic abuse cases with an emphasis on Controlling & Coercive behaviour.
