Member

I said in response to the noble Lord that I would consider his points, and I have done so. As to the first issue, that of psychological harm, I contend that the question whether controlling or coercive behaviour has caused psychological harm is no different in kind from the question whether an assault has occasioned actual bodily harm. That is the basis for a charge of assault occasioning ABH, which is an offence tried every day by juries and magistrates in the context of assault and is easily understood. There would, I suggest, be no greater difficulty for juries, judges—if it should come to that—or magistrates in identifying psychological harm than there is in identifying actual bodily harm, with the assistance of such evidence as may be necessary.