Coercive Control Is a War of Attrition with Laura Richards

About this episode

The episode discusses coercive control as a patterned strategy of abuse and the systemic failures in protecting victims.

In this episode of Perfect Prey , I’m joined by Laura Richards , a criminal behavioral analyst, former New Scotland Yard specialist, and one of the leading global voices on coercive control. Laura has been instrumental in changing laws on stalking and coercive control in the UK and internationally, and her work has helped shape policy, legislation, and professional practice worldwide. We explore why coercive control is not about isolated incidents, but a patterned strategy of domination, entrapment, and power imbalance. Laura explains why coercive control is best understood as a war of attrition , how patriarchy and misogyny shape institutional responses, and why women and children are so often disbelieved—even when the evidence is present. This conversation examines how legal systems, family courts, and law enforcement frequently fail victims and survivors, particularly at the point of separation, when risk escalates most dramatically. We also discuss why coercive control must be criminalized, why gender matters in risk assessment, and how language itself can either obscure or reveal abuse. What we cover What coercive control really is and why it’s a patterned form of abuse Why…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Christine Marie Cocchiola

Guest: Laura Richards

Topics covered

• coercive control
• domination
• patriarchy
• misogyny
• legal systems
• victim disbelieve
• family courts

Keywords

• coercive control
• abuse
• victims
• patriarchy
• legal systems
• family courts
• domination
• misogyny

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Scotland Yard

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• Why Survivors Must Be Heard to Heal with Dr. Judith Lewis Herman · May 8, 2026 · 47 min
• Greyson’s Choice: Ali Kessler’s Mission to Protect Children · April 24, 2026 · 35 min
• Children Are Not Witnesses: The Truth About Coercive Control with Emma Katz · April 10, 2026 · 43 min
• Jane Doe No More: Story of Survival and Accountability with Donna Palomba · March 27, 2026 · 37 min