By Michael Thompson, Founder of Falsely Accused Network
The government's recent announcement to treat coercive control as seriously as other forms of domestic abuse is a welcome step forward in addressing this insidious form of abuse. From February 4, offenders sentenced to 12 months or more will be managed under multi-agency public protection arrangements (Mappa), placing coercive control on par with threats to kill and stalking.
However, this development, while positive, highlights a persistent blind spot in domestic abuse policy: the systematic overlooking of male victims. As the founder of Falsely Accused Network, I've witnessed firsthand how male survivors of coercive control often struggle to have their experiences recognized and validated by the system meant to protect them.
The consultation process leading to these changes appears to have largely excluded male victims' voices and experiences. This oversight is particularly concerning given that coercive control can affect anyone, regardless of gender. Men often face unique challenges when reporting abuse, including disbelief, stigma, and a lack of specialized support services.
The government's approach seems to perpetuate the narrative that domestic abuse is exclusively a women's issue. While we absolutely must protect female victims, this shouldn't come at the cost of ignoring or minimizing the experiences of male survivors. The new Mappa arrangements, while robust in their framework, make no specific provisions for addressing the unique challenges faced by male victims.
Our network regularly encounters men who have suffered years of psychological manipulation, financial control, and emotional abuse, yet struggled to be taken seriously by authorities. These men's stories deserve to be heard, and their experiences should inform policy just as much as those of female victims.
For these changes to be truly effective, we need a more inclusive approach that recognizes and addresses the needs of all victims of coercive control. This means better training for police and probation services in recognizing male victimization, more support services specifically for male survivors, and a concerted effort to break down the stigma that prevents men from seeking help.
The government has taken an important step, but until we acknowledge and address the experiences of all victims, regardless of gender, our response to coercive control will remain incomplete.
Link for BBC article
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