“The pathologization of women who have been abused is a criminal act”: a qualitative exploration of survivors’ experiences with statutory professionals and coercive control two-years post-legislative reform

Purpose
The introduction of the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings (DACP) Act (2021) criminalized coercive control and other forms of abuse, aligning Northern Ireland’s legal framework with the rest of the United Kingdom. This legislative shift prompted calls for enhanced training of frontline statutory professionals and improved protection for victims. However, limited research has explored how survivors experience and navigate institutional systems in the wake of the Act. This study addresses this gap by examining domestic abuse survivors’ interactions with statutory professionals most likely to receive disclosures and who had received, or were recommended to receive, DACP-related training.

Method
Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with Women's Aid service users, all of whom had experienced coercive control and engaged with police, legal professionals, healthcare, or social services after the implementation of the Act.

Results
Following reflexive thematic analysis, three key themes emerged: (1) Systemic Barriers to Effective Practice; (2) The Impact of Professional Response; and (3) Survivor-Informed Pathways to Reform.

Conclusions
Despite recent legal reforms and increased awareness of coercive control, significant gaps remain in how statutory professionals understand and respond to this form of abuse. Survivors frequently reported victim-blaming, disbelief, or the minimization of their experiences when seeking support. While the DACP Act represents progress, it has largely not yet translated into consistent, supportive practice. This lack of professional understanding continues to retraumatize victims and undermines trust in statutory services, highlighting the need for further systemic change informed by survivors’ experiences.