Nine years on from the Serious Crime Act 2015: Reflections on hopes, fears, progress and challenges around coercive control within a legislative framework, and on the importance of a feminist analysis of domestic abuse… in conversation with Polly Neate

Abstract

Polly Neate is the CEO of Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, and was previously the CEO of Women’s Aid from 2013 to 2017. Under her leadership Women’s Aid campaigned for, and helped bring legislation criminalising coercive and controlling behaviours in intimate and family relationships into law in England and Wales with The Serious Crime Act 2015. She has sat on several panels advising on domestic abuse in the UK, and is a regular commentator on women’s rights and social justice issues.