Petition · past parliament · Home Office
Extend the law on coercive control to cover post-separation abuse
Closed
1,322 signatures
What the petition asks
We want the UK government to:
- Extend the law on coercive control (s.76 Serious Crime Act 2015) to cover circumstances where a victim has left the relationship
- To remove the defense under s.76(8) where a perp can claim they were acting in the victim's best interest.
- Extend the law on coercive control (s.76 Serious Crime Act 2015) to cover circumstances where a victim has left the relationship
- To remove the defense under s.76(8) where a perp can claim they were acting in the victim's best interest.
S.76 Serious Crime Act 2015 rightly recognises the horrific impact that coercive control has on victims of domestic abuse.
However, it does not recognise that, for many victims, this abuse continues once they have left the abuser.
Stalking and harassment law doesn't provide effective coverage - which often leaves victims without protection.
S.76(8) also gives the abuser an unnecessary defence - that they were acting in the victim's best interest. They never are so this must be removed!
However, it does not recognise that, for many victims, this abuse continues once they have left the abuser.
Stalking and harassment law doesn't provide effective coverage - which often leaves victims without protection.
S.76(8) also gives the abuser an unnecessary defence - that they were acting in the victim's best interest. They never are so this must be removed!
Timeline
| 28 Aug 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 28 Feb 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
1,322
Status
Closed
Department
Home Office
Opened
28 Aug 2020
Closed
28 Feb 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.