Anishinabek Police Service Launches Campaign to Highlight the Signs of Coercive Control

Press Release

May 19, 2026

Information contained in our news releases may relate to issues of violence or trauma, which could be distressing for some individuals. Be mindful of your well-being and consider whether or not engaging with this content is appropriate for you.

This week, the Anishinabek Police Service (APS) is launching a public awareness campaign to highlight the actions and behaviours used by abusers to harm and control survivors. The campaign is comprised of a series of social media messages that highlight ‘red flag’ behaviours, as well as net new additions to the Domestic Violence page on our website.

What is coercive control

Coercive control involves repeated acts of humiliation, intimidation, isolation, exploitation, manipulation to control or dominate you by making you feel afraid, ashamed, anxious, unsure or upset. It is a pattern of behaviour aimed at maintaining power over an intimate partner and is frequently accompanied by acts of physical or sexual coercion. And it isn’t an accident. Every time a person uses abusive behaviours, they’re making a choice to do so.

Coercive control can be present in any type of relationship. It can happen when people are casually dating, in a serious relationship or separated. It is also pervasive in human trafficking. The abusive person could also be a family member, co-resident or someone who provides care.

Signs of coercive control

We all know what physical violence looks like, but when it comes to coercive control, the signs can be hard to spot because it often starts slowly or builds up over time. Coercive and controlling behaviours can be subtle, and the abuser often tries to hide what they are doing from others. It can involve many different forms of abuse, including:

• making it hard for you to see your friends and family
• weaponizing your children against you by telling them you’re a bad parent or belittling you in front of them
• always needing to know where you are, what you are doing, and who you are with, often demanding that you have your location sharing turned on
• suggesting shared phone and social media accounts for convenience
• monitoring you via online communication tools or spyware, logging into your social media accounts and impersonating you
• telling you what you can and can’t wear, or where you can and can’t go
• degrading and belittling comments about your appearance
• gaslighting when you confront them about their behaviour and accusing you of exaggeration or making up stories
• fabricating lies about you to others
• placing you on a budget, restricting access to bank and credit cards and makes access conditional on compliance with specific rules he has set
• convincing you he can support you financially and you don’t need to work
• restricting access to food
• confiscating car keys to prevent you from leaving the house
• preventing you from going to medical appointments

If someone you know is being subjected to coercive control, you may notice that:

• they continually cancel plans
• they pull away from activities they once enjoyed
• they seem anxious or worried about their partner’s reaction
• they “have to check” before making plans or talk about what they are “allowed” to do
• avoid places, people or activities their partner “doesn’t like”

Impacts of coercive control

Coercive control is serious, and can cause immediate and long-term psychological harm. Coercive control can affect every part of a person’s life including their mental and physical health, relationships, employment and financial security. The abuse can also affect a person’s sense of safety, their independence, and self-esteem – making them feel trapped, powerless and alone. Survivors report that control and deprivation of freedom are at least as devastating as physical violence.

Coercive control behaviours also heighten the risk of lethality. A 2020 domestic violence death review study published in Australia found that all but one of 112 cases of intimate partner homicide were preceded by coercive and controlling behaviour.

Where to go for help and support

Abuse is not your fault.

We know it can be very difficult for someone experiencing domestic violence to ask for help.

For help with controlling behaviour or intimate partner violence, call the Assaulted Women’s Helpline at 1-866-863-0511 or text #SAFE (7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus mobile phone. The Assaulted Women’s Helpline serves as a free, anonymous and confidential 24-hour telephone crisis line to all women in the province of Ontario who have experienced any form of abuse. The Assaulted Women’s Helpline has a TTY line available at 1-866-863-7868.

For information about coercive control, please visit the Domestic Violence page on the APS website.

The Supports page on the APS website is a curated catalogue of culturally appropriate resources available to survivors and victims, including crisis lines, healing lodges, treatment centres, and a list of shelters across the province. In addition to the Assaulted Women’s Helpline, the Supports page includes links to Beendigen’s Talk4Healing Helpline, Hope for Wellness Helpline, the Native Youth Crisis Hotline, and other critical resources for our communities.

Please note that our website includes a Quick Escape feature for users seeking immediate privacy (particularly useful for those accessing sensitive information such as intimate partner violence resources).

If you or someone you know is a victim of family or intimate partner violence, call 1-888-310-1122. If a violent incident is in progress and you are in danger, call 9-1-1.

Media Contact
Jennifer Hartman, Communications Lead
Email: media@apscops.org

ILR5