Wiltshire charity calls for more awareness of economic abuse
It's thought 11% of women in the south west are being financially controlled in their relationships
A Wiltshire charity is urging us to be aware of the signs of people being financially controlled within their relationships.
Economic abuse occurs when an abuser dictates another person's access to money, with the intent of gaining control or power over them.
It's though that at least 1 in 10 women in the south west are suffering economic abuse.
Domestic abuse charity FearFree wants the conversation around such abuse to be more open, in order to remove the stigma around it.
"Educating and raising awareness, as well as having open conversations with people are needed," the charity's Sam Naether told us, adding: "It's not something that needs to be hidden behind closed doors."
FearFree's Claire Riches told us what could indicate economic abuse.
"Behaviours could include being told that you're not able to look after the finances, that you don't do a very good job and they're better than you and they should be the one looking after it, so you don't need to get involved."
Claire added the signs can be hard to see early on.
She said: "They can be seen as being over-caring behaviours, they might say 'let me look after all of the finances' or 'don't worry about working. I'll work for the both of us and pay for everything'.
"Then it might extend to not having access to bank statements and all of the bills being paid by the other person."
Anyone who feels that they or someone they know is suffering economic abuse can contact FearFree here.