Psychological abuse within a relationship is illegal.

The offence of coercive control recognises that domestic abuse can take several forms and is not strictly limited to physical violence.

A number of things that were until fairly recently not covered are now outlawed.

In England and Wales, the following 10 acts towards a partner are illegal.

1. Sharing sexually explicit images of a partner - New laws surrounding ‘revenge porn’ make it illegal for someone to share intimate photographs of you with anyone, online or otherwise.

2. Restricting access to finances - Even if they earn more money than you, the law says your partner cannot stop you from accessing cash within the relationship.

3. Putting you down - Persistent name-calling, mocking and other forms of insulting behaviour are now illegal.

4. Stopping a partner from seeing friends or family - Monitoring or blocking of calls and emails, telling you where you can or cannot go, and preventing you from seeing your friends or relatives is now against the law. IF your partner isolates you from the people you love, they could face the wrath of the law.

5. Scaring you - Your partner might not physically assault you, but if they are doing enough to frighten you, they are committing an offence. That could include using their size to intimidate or breaking things around the house.

6. Threatening to reveal private things about you - Repeated threats to reveal personal and private information is now classed as a form of abuse. It could include revealling details about health or sexual orientation.

7. Putting tracking devices on your phone - It is illegal under the new legislation to “monitor a person using online communication tools or spyware”.

8. Being extremely jealous - Persistent accusation of cheating and “extreme jealousy, including possessiveness and ridiculous accusations of cheating” all come under the new legislation.

9. Forcing you to obey their rules - The CPS says if a partner is forced to abide by stringent rules set by a partner, it could mean they are committing a crime.

10. Controlling what you wear - Your partner taking control over any part of your life is highlighted in the new legislation, including restricting who you see and where you go. Controlling what you wear or how you look could also now be grounds for prosecution under the changes.

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