Nottingham actress speaks out on economic abuse
14 percent of women in the East Midlands have been found to fall victim to this kind of behaviour
An actress from Nottingham says she got "caught out" when she suffered coercive and controlling abuse from her partner, and is now urging others to know the signs.
Figures from Surviving Economic Abuse reveal 14 percent of women in the East Midlands fell victim to economic abuse in 2024.
More widely, fifteen percent of women in the UK experienced this form of domestic abuse, last year – that’s equivalent to 4.1 million.
The figures coincide with data from TSB’s emergency Flee Fund – where over 500 victim-survivors have accessed the scheme, which offers £500 to help escape an abuser.
Sam Beckinsale has had a long and varied career in TV, film and theatre ranging from dramas such as London's Burning and Holby City, to comedies such as Time After Time and An Evening with Gary Lineker to feature films such as Katherine of Alexandria with Peter O' Toole, Steven Berkoff and Joss Ackland.
She was the last person she, or those around her, thought would fall prey to a domestic abuser and she doesn't want anyone else to be caught out like she was:
"I believed the myths of domestic abuse that it's just the physical violence - it's not. Domestic abuse and especially economic abuse is a tactic that is woven into every aspect of this and it's actually about coercion and control.
"There was a time where I did wish he'd just hit me, because I'd then know how to tell somebody else what was going on. But he didn't and that was part of his tactic. Now I know, there are safe spaces for you to go, there are flee funds that you can access and you are not alone."
Sam now works with numerous organisations such as Crown Prosecution Service, UK police forces, NHS, local authorities and other organisations, businesses and politicians to aid the real understanding of coercive control, it's life threatening and life changing impact and the huge costs to society as well as to the victims.
She hopes to help towards changing the outcomes for both perpetrators and all victims of this worldwide crime, social & economic epidemic:
"There are actually options out there for you, you're not alone. They're on our high streets, in our banks, our pharmacies... I know what it's like, I know it's scary but the shame doesn't belong to us, it belongs to the perpetrators."
To find out more about what economic abuse is, and what the signs are visit survivingeconomicabuse.org.
Access and learn more about TSB's emergency Flee Fund here.