How to tell if you're being controlled financially...

AN EXPERT HIGHLIGHTS WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP, AND THOSE OF LOVED ONES. BY ELLA WALKER

- BY ELLA WALKER

MONEY can be a tricky subject of conversation for any couple, but where economic abuse is at play, it can even be life-threatening.

According to the charity Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA), one in six women in the UK has experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner, and it's also a factor in 95% of cases of domestic abuse.

“Economic abuse is when a partner or ex-partner controls your money, but also your economic resources,” explains Sara D'Arcy, head of external affairs at SEA. “So that can be your housing, whether you can access transport, a mobile phone, all the way down to basic essentials like food and clothing.

It has been criminalised under the coercive controlling behaviour offence, so can be prosecuted.

“Abusers are using this tactic every day of the year,” says Sara.

“It is all about taking control and creating financial instability that eventually makes you feel trapped and like you can’t take steps to leave.

“There's definite tactics deployed at certain times of the year,” adds Sara - the May half-term holiday and summer holidays included.