Coercive Control Monitoring Report June 2025

Key findings for the first year

• NSW Police recorded 297 incidents of coercive control in the 12 months since the legislation came into effect
• On average, each coercive control incident involved four distinct controlling behaviours. The most frequently recorded controlling behaviours were:
  •  harassment, monitoring or tracking (recorded in 59% of coercive control incidents)
  • threats or intimidation (53%)
  • financial abuse (48%)
  • shaming or humiliation (45%).        
• Regional NSW recorded a higher rate of coercive control incidents (5.9 per 100,000) compared to Greater Sydney (2.3 per 100,000). Areas such as the Far West and Orana and Central West showed rates three times the state average. 
• 62% of coercive control of incidents were accompanied by another offence type, most frequently: intimidation or stalking (37%), domestic assault (35%), malicious damage (12%).
• 94% of victims were women, and 92% of incidents involving a female victim and male alleged offender.
• Nearly half the victims (47%) had a prior history of domestic violence recorded by police, and 31% had previously experienced domestic violence involving the same alleged offender.
• 23% of victims of coercive control had an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) in place at the time of the incident, while a further 57% had an ADVO issued following the event.
• Between July 2024 and June 2025, 9 coercive control charges had been laid: 5 were laid by NSW Police and 4 were laid by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Of these, three charges have been finalised in court: two were withdrawn by the prosecution, and one was proven (the defendant received an Intensive Correction Order).