Emotional abuse is one of the hardest things to prove in court – but do you think you’d be able to spot the signs of coercive control?
An eye-opening new BBC Three show challenges a group of 20 British people aged 18-30 to see if they can observe a pattern of mentally abusive behaviour within a relationship.
Over the course of two days, the group watch a specially-written drama telling the story of Irish couple Rachael and Alex, which ends with an accusation of coercive control.
As the story gradually unfolds over six parts, the group are invited to come to their own conclusions about what they see, and decide whether they think what they have witnessed constitutes a crime in the eyes of the law.
An eye-opening new BBC Three show challenges a group of 20 people aged 18-30 (pictured) to see if they can observe a pattern of abusive behaviour within a relationship
Coercive control, which describes a pattern of behaviour by an abuser to harm, punish or frighten their victim, has been illegal in England since 2015 and hit the headlines last year following the re-trial of Sally Challen over the killing of her husband Richard in 2010.
Sally, who was only 16 when she met then 22-year-old Richard, successfully quashed her murder conviction on the basis that she had spent decades as a victim of her husband’s coercive and controlling behaviour.
During the programme, the group watch as Alex marks his and Rachael’s three month anniversary – which is also her birthday – in lavish style, presenting her with an expensive necklace before telling her he loves her for the first time.
Rachael – who hadn’t remembered it was a significant date – replies that she loves him too before the couple go out to a nightclub where they meet up with some of her work colleagues.
Over the course of two days, the group (a selection of which are pictured) watch a specially-written drama telling the story of Irish couple Rachael and Alex, which ends with an accusation of coercive control
Alex appears to take issue with Rachael talking to her male colleague, Vish, while Rachael admits she’s had too much to drink – sparking concerns among the group watching that she has an issue with alcohol dependency.
In a later scene the group watches as Rachael, who was on a final warning at her work for misconduct, is fired from her job.
Her boss got wind that she lied about being at a funeral – a suggestion made by Alex after she revealed her friends were in town and wanted to meet her and go out.
With no job and her landlord demanding an increase in her rent, Rachael’s situation looks pretty desperate – until Alex surprises her by asking her to move in rent-free, provided she earn her keep by cooking and cleaning his flat.
The group watching are torn over whether the behaviour from either party is emotionally abusive.
Some feel Rachael is untrustworthy, irrational and manipulative after she lied to her employer and then turned to her boyfriend for help and support, while others are left suspicious by Alex’s motives.
Many of the men watching say they believe Rachael is more of a ‘red flag’ than Alex, and demonstrates she’s ‘flaky’ as a person, while the majority of the women suggest Alex is showing signs of controlling behaviour.
Things appear to take a darker turn when Alex makes suggestions about what Rachael should wear, implying she dressed inappropriately, and complains she hasn’t done a good enough job of cleaning his flat.
While some of the women watching claim Alex has tipped over into controlling behaviour by telling her to change up her wardrobe, some of female viewers – and a number of the men – argue he was doing it in her best interests, trying to help her dress more ‘professionally’.
Alex later loses his temper when she goes out to see her old work colleagues without telling him and fails to answer her phone, smashing a plate in anger and calling her a ‘s***’, bringing his girlfriend to tears – before asking her to start paying her way financially.
In another scene, Alex encourages Rachael to celebrate the fact she has a job interview by drinking Champagne – despite the fact she initially resists because she has to get up early the following morning.
Rachael proceeds to get drunk and opens a second bottle of wine – telling Alex he’s being ‘boring’ when he suggests she go to bed.
At each stage of the process, the group has the chance to vote on whether they think there is anything wrong with Alex or Rachael’s behaviour, before finally casting their judgement on whether they believe any of their actions constitute the crime of coercive control.
It becomes clear there are a variety of different perspectives, with some feeling what they are being shown amounts to normal behaviour in a relationship, while others fear a line is being crossed.
The drama culminates in a dramatic court case – but will Rachael or Alex be found guilty of coercive control?
Is This Coercive Control, presented by journalist Ellie Flynn, is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer from October 27.
Refuge offers a free 24-hour domestic abuse hotline; call them on 0808 2000 247 or visit https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/