Threats and Intimidation
Abuse isn’t always physical. Threats and intimidation are powerful tools used by abusers to instil fear, exert control, and silence victims.
At STN Women’s Lives Matters, we support anyone who is experiencing fear, anxiety, or manipulation as a result of threats or intimidation. If someone is making you feel unsafe—even without physical violence—this is abuse, and you do not have to face it alone.
What Are Threats and Intimidation?
Threats and intimidation are forms of emotional and psychological abuse. They are deliberate tactics designed to control another person through fear, manipulation, or implied harm. Abusers use them to dominate, punish, or break down a person’s sense of safety and autonomy.
These behaviours may include:
- Verbal threats to harm you, your loved ones, your pets, or even themselves
- Threats of physical violence, even if violence hasn’t occurred
- Threatening to take your children away
- Threatening to “out” you, or share personal or sensitive information
- Threatening to destroy your property or important possessions
- Stalking or following you to instil fear
- Using intimidating gestures, facial expressions, or body language
- Punching walls, slamming doors, or destroying objects during arguments
- Monitoring your movements and questioning your every action
- Implying that they have control over your immigration status, finances, or housing
“He never hit me, but he’d stand in front of the door and shout, telling me I’d never survive without him. I felt trapped in my own home.”
— Layla, survivor of coercive control
The Impact of Threats and Intimidation
Even without physical violence, threats and intimidation can be devastating. This form of abuse often causes:
- Constant fear or anxiety
- Loss of confidence and independence
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Long-term emotional trauma or PTSD
- Isolation from friends, family, or support networks
- Fear of leaving the relationship
Many survivors say this type of abuse was just as damaging—if not more so—than physical violence, especially when it lasted over a long period.
Is It Abuse?
You may be experiencing threatening or intimidating behaviour if someone:
- Uses fear to get what they want
- Makes you feel afraid to speak, say no, or express your needs
- Controls your access to money, technology, or transport
- Forces you to change your behaviour to avoid “setting them off”
- Regularly uses phrases like “You’ll regret this,” “No one will believe you,” or “You’re nothing without me”
Even if you still love or care for the person, abuse is never justified. No one has the right to control or scare you.
The Law and Your Rights
In the UK, many forms of intimidation and threats are illegal under the Serious Crime Act 2015 and Protection from Harassment Act 1997. These may include:
- Coercive or controlling behaviour
- Threats of harm
- Stalking or harassment
- Blackmail
- Threats to share intimate images without consent
You have the right to:
- Apply for non-molestation orders or restraining orders
- Report threatening messages or stalking to the police
- Seek legal protection for yourself and your children
How We Can Help
At STN Women’s Lives Matters, we offer:
- Confidential emotional support
- Legal advice or referrals for protective orders
- Help accessing safe accommodation
- Safety planning for online and offline threats
- Trauma-informed counselling or mental health services
- Support navigating the criminal justice system
Are You in Immediate Danger?
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999. If you can’t speak, press 55 when prompted to access silent support.
For confidential, non-emergency help:
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24/7): 0808 2000 247
You Deserve Safety and Respect
Threats and intimidation can make you feel powerless—but support is available. You are not alone, and there is a path to freedom and healing.