Duchess of Cornwall backs domestic violence campaign

The striking ‘Cut your strings’ videos have been put together by animation students from Bournemouth University, after they were asked by Dorset’s High Sheriff, Dorset police and the Dorset Criminal Justice board, to make films that would illustrate common types of coercive behaviour.

They show puppet-like characters that are attached to their abusers by strings.

They feature three common forms of controlling behaviour, including making serious threats, tracking and monitoring someone’s day-to-day activity, and isolation from friends, family and interests.

In a video to support the campaign, Camilla said: “Thankfully the sometimes disastrous effects of domestic abuse in society are now much better understood.

“Much less understood is the psychological abuse which exists in some relationships. I’m delighted that Dorset Police and Bournemouth University are working together to make this short film and that it will, over time, help to raise public awareness of some of the complex characteristics that make up controlling and coercive behaviour which is now, thank goodness, a crime.”

The Duchess of Cornwall has worked to raise awareness of the issues facing those affected by sexual violence and domestic abuse since 2009.

She has visited a number of refuges and centres to learn more about the issue and most recently visited the Metropolitan Police to learn how specially adapted telephone is allowing victims to contact the police quickly and discreetly during an emergency.

In 2015 controlling and coercive behaviour was classified as a criminal offence to close the gap in the law around patterns of psychological and emotional abuse, that sometimes stop short of physical abuse.

It can be very difficult to prosecute as often there can be little physical evidence and the case relies on one person’s word against another.

Dorset Police Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “Controlling or coercive behaviour can cause significant harm to victims and their children.

“Perpetrators need to know that reports of this sort of abuse will be pursued and investigated. There is help and support available and I urge anyone who is affected by controlling or coercive behaviour, or any other abuse to seek help and report it.”

The closing information on the videos has been voiced by actress Louiza Patikas, who played Helen Titchener within a domestic abuse story line in The Archers radio soap opera.

Earlier this month the Government announced their domestic violence bill consultation which aims to produce a series of measures to better support victims and create the first-ever legal definition for domestic abuse.