The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has launched a video ‘Don’t Disappear’ to raise awareness of relationship abuse. This is following its ‘Know this isn’t Love’ coercive control campaign from earlier in the year. It has been launched under the branding of Victims First. Victims First supports victims and witnesses of crime across the Thames Valley and is managed by the OPCC.
The film – ‘Don’t Disappear’ – tells the story of Jamie and Emma; from the seemingly loving early stages of their relationship, to the development of coercive and controlling behaviours such as jealousy and possessiveness, control, love bombing and isolation.
While anyone of any age can be a victim of coercive control, the OPCC is particularly keen to promote this to younger people who may have less relationship experience and people who are at the beginning of a relationship. The aim of the video is to raise awareness of the red flags – the early signs of coercive control which at the time, may be missed or misinterpreted as acceptable behaviour in a relationship.
The OPCC hopes the video will help people who may be in controlling relationships to identify with it and potentially seek help.
Anyone who is concerned they may be experiencing this can contact Victims First for support on 0300 1234 148 You can find further information about coercive control at www.victims-first.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigns/
