Four in 10 adults say their understanding of coercive control is poor or non-existent, according to a new study commissioned by Vodafone and domestic abuse charity Hestia as part of a campaign to raise awareness and provide support to anyone affected. The campaign, called ‘It’s Not Nothing’, aims to help people recognise coercive control and direct people to the Bright Sky app and website as a source of help and support. The Bright Sky app is available to download free via the App Store or Google Play.
Coercive control is when a someone you know, repeatedly behaves in a way which makes you feel controlled, dependent, isolated or scared. The results of the study suggest that despite media coverage and portrayals of coercive behaviour in popular dramas such as Eastenders and The Archers, millions of Britons might fail to recognise the warning signs.
When asked to consider behaviours consistent with coercive control in their own relationships, past and present, a quarter said they had been isolated from friends and family, one in five had had their time monitored and a quarter said they had been made to feel humiliated or degraded. More than quarter said they had been in a relationship where they considered themselves to be a victim of coercive control.
