PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Extend Section 76 to protect victims of institutional coercive control.
Amend the Serious Crime Act 2015 to make coercive and controlling behaviour by employers, religious organisations, care providers, and institutions a criminal offence, giving all victims the same legal protection regardless of context.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
32
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 32/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 32/100,000
Background
We believe the law currently tells victims of institutional coercive control that their suffering is less worthy of criminal sanction simply because their abuser was an employer, a religious body, an organisation, or a care provider rather than a partner or family member. We are concerned that this is a gap that causes real, lasting harm to people. The psychological damage caused by coercive control does not depend on the relationship in which it occurs, and the law should reflect that. It must change to provide recourse to all victims, not just some.