‘It builds the bigger picture’: viewing intimate partner sexual violence investigations through the lens of coercive control

Despite research highlighting high attrition rates in intimate partner rape and sexual assault cases progressing through the criminal justice system, limited attention has been paid to the investigation of these offences within the broader context of domestic abuse, and specifically coercive control. Addressing this gap, this exploratory study draws on seven anonymised police case examples and 20 interviews with police investigators and supervisors to illustrate the barriers to investigating and charging rape and sexual assault offences in the context of (ex)intimate partner domestic abuse. We focus on the context of England and Wales, where legislation was enacted in 2015 to criminalise ‘controlling or coercive behaviour’. We identify seven issues spanning the investigation and prosecution process, demonstrating how a lack of understanding of, or engagement with, the broader dynamics of abuse, specifically coercive control, can be present at all stages of the investigation and prosecution process. We also show how situating intimate partner sexual violence in the context of coercive control can overcome some of the difficulties associated with investigating and prosecuting this type of offending. This is illustrated through a case example of a successful intimate partner sexual violence prosecution in which a controlling or coercive behaviour charge provided crucial evidence to support the sexual offence charges. The findings point to the value of employing a coercive control lens for police investigative practice and for how victim engagement in intimate partner sexual violence cases is understood and responded to across the criminal justice system.