Domestic abuse can have a serious, harmful long-term impact on a child and is one of the most common reasons for children being referred to the children’s hearing system for care and protection in Scotland. Yet some forms of domestic abuse, like coercive control, can at times be overlooked or its impact on children minimised.
Coercive control is a criminal offence in Scotland. It is a pattern of behaviour which can involve humiliation, threats and physical and psychological violence, which a person uses to gain and maintain control over their partner or ex-partner.
Living with this form of abuse can mean a child is living with constant fear, uncertainty, anxiety and stress, with an inevitable impact on their mental wellbeing. Perpetrators commonly isolate their victim and family from friends and relatives, meaning children can be cut off from natural sources of support.