NSW launches campaign to educate public on signs of abuse

An advertising campaign aimed at raising awareness of forced control has been launched by the NSW Government ahead of new laws making the act a punishable offence.

Coercive control was used by the perpetrator over the victim before her death in 97 percent of domestic violence homicides between 2000 and 2018, the state’s Domestic Violence Death Review Team found.

Deputy Prime Minister Prue Carr said it was vital that people were able to recognize the “insidious” act.

“Coercive control is an insidious and harmful form of domestic abuse – it can leave victims feeling isolated, vulnerable and alone,” she said.

“This campaign is vital to ensure that the wider public know what enforcement looks like and that perpetrators know that what they are doing is wrong.

“The past few weeks have highlighted the need for urgent action to keep women safe.”

The campaign features the slogan “This is not love, this is coercive control”.

Coercive control is “a pattern of behavior that may include financial abuse, threats against pets or loved ones, tracking someone’s movements or isolating them from friends and family in order to control them,” according to the government’s definition.

Some of the signs mentioned in the campaign include requiring perpetrators to know where their partner is at all times, cutting partners off from friends and family members and creating a financial dependency between victim and perpetrator.

“Coercive control is behavior designed to exercise dominance and control over another, and it can be hard to spot because it can be deeply contextual,” Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Minister Jody Harrison said.

“This campaign is vital because it helps build public awareness of coercive control and what it looks like in intimate partner relationships, with the ultimate goal of saving lives.

“These ads depict offensive behavior that is, unfortunately, all too familiar to some people in our community.

“It shines a light on this insidious abuse before it escalates to murder.”

From July 1, perpetrators found guilty of the act in NSW will face up to seven years in prison.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Advice Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

If you are in immediate danger, call triple zero (000).