A YEAR-LONG campaign to recognise psychological abuse as part of domestic violence bore fruit yesterday as the government introduced a Bill against “coercive and controlling behaviour.”

The amendment to the Serious Crime Bill came as a victory for the many women’s groups championing reforms to domestic violence laws including Women’s Aid and Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service.

Paladin chief executive Laura Richards said: “It is important that our laws reflect the reality of domestic violence.”