From today, coercive control has been criminalised in NSW. Perpetrators found guilty will face up to seven years in prison.
NSW is the first jurisdiction in the country to have a dedicated standalone offence of coercive control.
In NSW, 97% of intimate partner domestic violence homicides between 2000 and 2018 started with coercive control, according to government data.
About coercive control
Coercive control is a form of domestic violence where a person displays a pattern of controlling and manipulative behaviours in the context of a relationship, limiting someone’s autonomy and independence over time.
A parliamentary inquiry defined coercive control as including “tactics to isolate, degrade, exploit and control” .
This can include isolating a partner from their friends and family, controlling their finances, making threats, monitoring them and their behaviour, and constantly humiliating and insulting them.
Police training
NSW Police have been undergoing mandatory coercive control training over the past 12 months.
NSW Police told TDA, training comprises of online and face-to-face modules that outlines how to recognise, respond to and record allegations of coercive control. It also covers how to collect and record evidence and information on prosecuting the offence.
The training also includes dealing with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
States and territories
In March this year, Queensland became the second jurisdiction in Australia to criminalise coercive control. Laws are expected to come into force from 2025 and will carry a maximum jail sentence of 14 years.
Tasmania introduced laws criminalising family violence, including coercive behaviour, in 2004. However, it does not have a standalone law covering coercive control.
South Australia is in the early stages of drafting laws to criminalise coercive control. In Western Australia, a recent review recommended strengthening legislation to target coercive behaviour.
