Domestic abuse charity says coercion can 'destroy' people

Next Chapter, a domestic abuse charity which covers Essex and is based in Colchester, has about 1,000 people on its books at any one time.

Last month, a study by the College of Policing and National Police said violence against women and girls has reached “epidemic levels” in England and Wales.

Next Chapter found that in Essex, domestic abuse accounts for 40 per cent of all violent crime and is the largest single issue being dealt with by the police.

Support - Next Chapter works to support women suffering domestic abuse. (Image: Sally Harrington) Sally Harrington, director of adult services and deputy chief exec at Next Chapter, said: “Our practitioners would say that the lasting impact of coercion and control is far greater than physical abuse.

“It can completely destroy people’s ability to just function, because it’s steady, slow, insidious - they don’t even know it’s there until they’re so far in it.

“Physical abuse is much easier to prove, but the hardest thing is coercion and control.”

Next Chapter found that in the last year, 90 per cent of its clients said they had experienced emotional abuse, and 70 per cent had experienced jealous and controlling behaviour.

Sally believes some victims do not support police prosecutions because they fear they won’t be believed, while others are afraid of the perpetrator.

Often, other people will call the police for the victim.

Sally said: “Victims are so controlled by their perpetrator that when the police turn up, they say everything is fine, because they’re terrified of what their perpetrator will do when the police leave.

“These victims are generally quite high-risk victims, which police tend to get involved with.

“Most of our victims need to know that somebody else can see things aren’t right. It’s okay to have that conversation with your friends - don’t be a bystander.”

Women who need to leave home in a hurry also tend to have the additional barriers of no access to their own money, housing and a fear of losing their children.

Sally said: “Perpetrators do a really good job to convince victims that they’re worthless, that they’re useless, that they won’t have access to their children.

“None of this is true, but people don’t know that, which is why it’s so important that they reach out for support.”