Yesterday saw the release of a new book on Coercive Control, written by Watson Ramsbottom Director Rachel Horman.
Considered a UK leading authority on Coercive Control, Rachel heads our Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Forced Marriage Department, and regularly advises clients on how to increase the chances of obtaining a successful prosecution for stalking and domestic abuse as well as advising in relation to civil options. Rachel regularly represents clients with regard to Coercive Control within the family courts, and has practiced in the area of domestic abuse and stalking for over 20 years.
She was personally involved in the campaign to change the law to create a criminal offence of Coercive Control or emotional abuse which came into force in December 2015 and continues to be involved in advising the police and government around other problems with the current law in relation to stalking and domestic abuse.
Rachel is also a seasoned media commentator, having spoken on Coercive Control and stalking on major media platforms including BBC Breakfast, BBC News, Sky News and Radio 4.
A Practical Guide to Coercive Control for Legal Practitioners and Victims acts as a guide to Coercive Control and its relevance to different areas of law with a particular focus on family law, including: –
- Why the law was necessary,
- The problems facing victims when utilising legislation,
- Risk assessment of victims,
- The link between coercive control and stalking,
- Protective orders available for victims,
- Legal aid, and
- How Coercive Control is relevant to family court proceedings.
Rachel advised ‘I have written this book to help victims going through the family courts, to try to get Coercive Control recognised as the risk factor it most certainly is. I have included information on some of the tactics victims can take advantage of as well as some of the pitfalls to be avoided.’
Whilst Coercive Control is not a new phenomenon, the law prohibiting it and the use of the phrase is relatively new and it is still very much a developing area of law and an area which is still often overlooked by the criminal and family justice system.