'Coercive control an issue in Jersey' - government

The government of Jersey has launched a new domestic abuse campaign to highlight that coercive and controlling behaviour is "an issue" in the island.

Coercive control is a psychological form of domestic abuse where the perpetrator uses threats, humiliation and intimidation to harm and frighten the victim.

The Home Affairs Minister Deputy Mary Le Hegarat said not enough people were aware that coercive control was made illegal in 2022, under Jersey's Domestic Abuse law.

She said the campaign seeks to "remind those who are suffering this kind of behaviour that they can report it and they will be supported if they do".

Le Hegarat said the campaign was important because people often do not realise what coercive behaviour is.

"It can be a whole range of things," she said.

"It can be somebody controlling their bank account, somebody controlling how somebody dresses, who they meet with and sometimes they even cut them off from their friends and family.

"I think it's important that we highlight those risks."

She said the new campaign was part of the government’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, adding that there would always need to be ongoing training and education to address domestic abuse in Jersey.

The government said a 2023 survey with victim-survivors of violence against women and girls found that:

• More than 85% of victim-survivors surveyed had experienced emotional or psychological abuse

• Some 85% of victim-survivors surveyed had experienced jealous and/or controlling behaviour

• More than 57% of victim-survivors surveyed reported experiencing financial or economic abuse

Domestic abuse survivor and advocate Samantha Billingham has supported the government with the campaign.

"If we‘re not talking about coercive control, we’re not talking about domestic abuse," she said.

She said she was in a coercive and controlling situation for three years and the impact on her life, her work and her mental health was "horrific".

She added: "The control of your mind, the changing of you as a person is horrendous.

"It's been almost 20 years since I've been out of that situation and the impact is just horrendous, the impact is massive."

Ms Billingham said the campaign launch was fantastic but there was still a lot more work to do regarding coercive control.

She said there was a lack of understanding about the issue from professionals who often minimise it because it is not physical abuse.

"We need more education and training around coercive control... early preventative work rather than waiting until it's too late," she said.

Sarah Hamon, service manager for Jersey Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support, said there was also work needed to remove the legislative and cultural barriers for victim-survivors coming forward to report domestic abuse.

She said going through the criminal justice system could be a "very long and gruelling, emotionally-draining process".

The more people that go through the criminal justice system the more it would improve people’s confidence to come forward and report abuse, Ms Hamon added.

She said that, ultimately, it was about victim-survivors feeling safe and knowing they can access support, guidance and advice.

If you've been affected by domestic abuse or controlling behaviour, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line

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