A RISING number of offences for controlling and coercive behaviour are being recorded in Dorset, figures show.

Home Office figures show Dorset Police received 216 reports of controlling and coercive behaviour in the year to March – up from 201 in 2020-21, the first year such crimes are recorded in the data.

Coercive control, which is punishable by up to five years imprisonment, has been a criminal offence since landmark legislation was introduced in 2015.

Abusers can be punished for subjecting a partner or family member to controlling behaviour such as isolating them, exploiting them financially, depriving them of basic needs, humiliating, frightening or threatening them.

Separate figures suggest victims are becoming less likely to get their day in court, with just 3.9 per cent of cases closed in 2021-22 ending in a charge or summons – down from 4.1 per cent.

In Dorset, 198 coercive control cases were closed last year, with 90.9 per cent abandoned due to difficulties gathering evidence and 5.1 per cent resulting in a suspect being charged or summoned to court.

This is compared to 88.8 per cent abandoned and 3.6 per cent charged in 2020-21.

Detective Superintendent Stewart Dipple, of Dorset Police, said: “We recognise the impact controlling and coercive behaviour has on victims and we are committed to doing all we can to supporting them and ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.

“We have invested significantly in training all officers and staff in how to identify controlling and coercive behaviour and to investigate it. This training has been delivered by the SafeLives charity.

“We also have a champions network that provides quality assurance to investigations as well as enhanced support to officers as they carry out their enquiries into these complex cases.

“As a result of enhanced training to recognise and record controlling and coercive behaviour, we have seen an increase in this crime category.

“Coercive control erodes victims’ confidence and self-esteem and many victims often feel they will not be believed, making it harder to gather the evidence as behaviours are very often subtle.

“Despite these challenges, we remain determined to support victims and take action against offenders and we have secured a number of successful convictions against perpetrators of controlling and coercive behaviour.

“Even where there is insufficient evidence to secure a criminal conviction, there are also safeguarding measures and support mechanisms we can put in place to support victims and we continue to encourage anyone who is the subject of controlling and coercive behaviour to please come forward and report it.

“Anyone who is affected by controlling and coercive behaviour, or any form of domestic abuse. can get support from Dorset Police by calling 101 or using our online reporting tools: www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online/. In an emergency, always call 999.”