A DOMESTIC abuse lawyer has called on police to start ‘taking seriously’ a law which aims to protect victims after figures show only six arrests were made since it was introduced more than a year ago.

Five charges have been brought in Lancashire since controlling or coercive behaviour became a new offence under the Serious Crime Act in December 2015.

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Solicitor Rachel Horman, of Blackburn-based Watson Ramsbottom, said the figures are not surprising.

She said: “What clients tell me on a daily basis is they have reported it and it has been dismissed.

“It is similar with the way stalking and harassment cases are dealt with.

“Without a bruise or a broken window they do not seem to be able to get their head around it. If it is not physical, in my experience, it is not dealt with.

“The law has been in place for well over a year.

“Some forces had arrested and charged people within the first six weeks. We are just not seeing it in Lancashire.”

Coercive control is defined as an act or pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation or intimidation.

Miss Horman said it is a more reliable indicator of domestic homicide than physical violence.

She said there needs to be better training, not just of officers but support staff and those who work on the desk.

“I have had cases where clients have been told ‘come back when he hits you’. When people are told that they will stop reporting it and that can be really dangerous,” she said.

“If they start taking it seriously it would save lives. It is really important.”

The figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show there is also one on-going investigation into coercive control.

Shigufta Khan, chief executive of the domestic abuse charity The Wish Centre, said: “We find when we have encouraged victims to report they have not been taken seriously."

Lancashire Police were unavailable for comment.