ONE of Dorset's top police officers has warned that those who coerce and control partners or relations could face criminal action under new laws.

Detective Chief Inspector Jez Noyce spoke out after new domestic abuse legislation under the Serious Crime Act was introduced on Tuesday.

The legislation means that victims who experience controlling or coercive behaviour in an ongoing relationship between intimate partners or family members may be able to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Police hope that it will close a gap in the law around patterns of behaviour which stop short of physical violence but amount to extreme psychological or emotional abuse.

Those convicted of the offence could be imprisoned for up to five years or face a fine.

DCI Noyce, of the Dorset Police Public Protection Unit, said: “We are sending a clear message that it is wrong to violate the trust of those closest to you and that emotional and controlling abuse will not be tolerated.

“Perpetrators need to know that these behaviours are now criminal and we will pursue and prosecute."

The law means that those who isolate someone from their friends and family, monitor their time, enforce rules which humiliate, degrade or dehumanise, deprive them of access to services or repeatedly put them down could face action.

Perpetrators who financially abuse their victim, make threats to hurt or kill them and threaten to reveal or publish private information may also be brought before the courts.

DCI Noyce said: “These behaviours can cause significant harm to the victim and their children.

“This is the ‘drip drip’ effect of long term abuse."

The victim and perpetrator must have been personally connected at the time of the offences for a prosecution to take place.

It is not necessary for the perpetrator and victim to still be in a relationship or living together when the offence is reported.

Dorset Police has specially trained officers to investigate domestic abuse and support victims. Call 101 for non-emergencies only, and call 999 in an emergency. All reports will be dealt with in confidence.