NSW Police gather to receive coercive control training from victims’ families and international prosecutors

When it comes to describing what coercive control looks like and the dire outcomes it can lead to, there is no one more qualified than the family of Hannah Clarke. He had a whole toolkit of different ways of controlling her, belittling her, manipulating her feelings and her relationship with others. She couldn't wear those real short little gym shorts, short skirts, the color pink, and when she would wear a bikini on the beach she was allowed, but she had to cover up. Hannah Clarke and her three young children were murdered by her estranged husband on a Brisbane St. in February 2020. Their horrific deaths followed months of abusive and controlling behaviour, behaviour that will soon be a crime in NSW. Those closest to Hannah agreed to help educate police about how they can use the new laws to help others. We never thought it was a warning sign of true danger lurking behind his intentions. If she is not offered appropriate support as a victim survivor and he is not held accountable, she will be returned to an unsafe home. Where the man who lives with her may abuse her or kill her. NSW Police also enlisted help all the way from Scotland, where prosecutors have been enforcing coercive control laws since 2018 and have an 85% conviction rate. The very nature and essence of coercive control is that it's a pattern of behaviour. It's a continuing offence. It's not one incident and shifting police investigation mindset, which is part of the police training, is really key. Today's event caps off 10 months of specialised training for thousands of police officers across the state. They'll start enforcing coercive control laws from Monday. That is our story. Anyone committing acts of coercive control from that day could face up to seven years in jail.