Domestic abuse perpetrators are using coercive control tactics to continue their power and control over their ex partner post separation by using the children. This can lead to bonds breaking and estrangement from the safe person.

Tactics, including incentives, bribes, false narratives, and portraying the parent as unstable while painting themselves as the good, fun one.

When aiming this at adolescents, it can be confusing and conflicting to them. They are finding their identity. They want freedom, no rules and material benefits, and this is what a perpetrator will focus on, to gain their loyalty and take their side. They will lack rules, buy them anything they want, feed them anything they want, make them their favourite child, let them stay off school. Anything to keep them onside and against the safe parent. They will change the narrative, plant seeds and the child will not notice. They will begin to take on what the perpetrators says and even start abusing the safe parent too.

This destructive behaviour, which is a form of domestic abuse, continues to cause immense pain and distress to many victims, which includes the child.  People forget that the child is also the victim, and is subtly being abused, and manipulated and brainwashed to stay away from the safe parent.

Coercive control tactics are subtle, yet dangerously effective in alienating the child from the non-abusive parent. It's a manipulative power dynamic often overlooked by professionals, leading to estrangement without proper intervention or support. The lack of awareness and appropriate frameworks among social workers, legal entities, and child protection agencies exacerbates the situation, leaving victims helpless.

According to a study by Women's Aid, coercive control is present in a significant number of abusive relationships, affecting the well-being of both children and non-abusive parents. Yet, the recognition of this type of abuse within the context of parental estrangement remains minimal.

Professionals in social services, law enforcement, and the legal system need to be equipped with the tools to identify and address coercive control before it leads to irreversible estrangement. Implementing mandatory training sessions, establishing clear guidelines for intervention, and providing resources for affected families can make a profound difference.

We urge lawmakers and relevant organisations  to develop and enforce a comprehensive framework that not only recognises but actively combats coercive control in parental dynamics. Empowering professionals with the knowledge and tools they need will safeguard countless families from unnecessary harm.

Sign this petition to support the development of frameworks that protect non-abusive parents and their children, ensuring they receive the support they need to maintain healthy relationships.