I need help in a case that could potentially help not just myself but also many other domestic abuse victims who have been failed by the justice system.
In 2019, my abuser stopped all contact between my child and myself. I had separated from my abusive ex partner several years earlier due to his abuse of me. We shared contact with our child. For a while, things seemed to be going okay. Then he decided to try to adopt a child with his new partner. The adoption agency wanted to speak with me as his former partner as part of their safeguarding review. I told them about his abuse of me when we had been in a relationship. As a punishment for me speaking the truth, he cut off all contact between my child and myself. I believe my child was deeply scared and manipulated into complying with him. My child was essentially taken hostage.
Family court, children's services and the police refused to see that him taking my child was a form of ongoing coercive control. They said it wasn't coercive control because I didn't live with my abuser any longer.
In April 2023, the coercive control law changed. Post separation coercive control was recognised as a crime, and manipulation of a child was recognised as one way that post separation coercive control can happen. I was able to get a police Assistant Commissioner to request an expert review of my case. This review stated my concerns were serious and were covered by the revisions from April 2023.
However, the subsequent police investigation refused to gather relevant evidence. Police did not take victim or witness statements, or look at the medical and financial records showing life changing injuries and harms I have suffered as a result of being deprived of my relationship with my child. As a result of this lack of evidence gathering, the investigation was closed on the basis that it did not meet the police threshold for coercive control.
I have found an ex senior police officer and legal firm who have offered to investigate and present my case to the Director of Public Prosecutions in an effort to set a precedent in tackling this form of abuse. The combined cost of the investigation and legal advice is £20,000. Can you help me raise this?
There are thousands of domestic abuse victims who are still being controlled long after they have left their abuser. The law to protect them is simply being ignored by police, children's services and family court. I'd like to find a route through this for myself and other victims to use.