Homicide Timeline and Coercive Control

Sarah is a seasoned Barrister with over 25 years of experience, specialising in family law and housing. In 2019, she was appointed as a Deputy District Judge. Holding a Master’s Degree in Criminology, she is deeply committed to promoting understanding and reform within the Criminal and Family Justice Systems, particularly in relation to Coercive Control, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Homicide.

She collaborates with Professor Jane Monckton Smith to deliver training on the Homicide Timeline, provides analytical support to police investigations, and contributes to expert reports. Additionally, Sarah also has her own podcast, ‘Control and the Law’ which scrutinises how our legal system deals with domestic abuse and Coercive Control and what could be changed to improve victims’ experiences and to hold perpetrators to account.

Bridie Anderson is a highly experienced domestic abuse specialist, trainer, and consultant with nearly 15 years of dedicated work in the sector. A former police officer and current IDVA/Outreach Services Manager, Bridie now serves as an Independent Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR) Chair and MARAC Chair, bringing a unique blend of frontline experience, strategic expertise, and survivor advocacy to her work.

As Director of Better Lives Training and Consultancy and an Associate Trainer with SafeLives and Red Snapper Learning, Bridie delivers specialist training on domestic abuse, stalking, coercive control, and safeguarding to professionals across statutory, third sector, and commercial organisations nationwide. Her work with SafeLives includes managing the national DA Matters Champions Police Network, developing groundbreaking training on police-perpetrated domestic abuse, ensuring lived experience remains central to all professional practice.

During her time as Surrey Police's Force Advisor for Domestic Abuse and Stalking (2012-2020), Bridie authored force policies, served on Domestic Homicide Review panels, and was credited with improving the force's HMICFRS rating from 'Inadequate' to 'Good'. She continues to provide specialist consultancy and case management for East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service, supporting the most complex and high-risk cases.

Bridie is a qualified facilitator for multiple survivor recovery programmes and acts as an Expert Witness for court proceedings. Her trauma-informed, survivor-centred approach and comprehensive understanding of criminal justice, safeguarding frameworks, and multi-agency partnership working make her a sought-after trainer and consultant across the UK and internationally.

The Homicide Timeline is a framework for understanding risk escalation patterns in cases of intimate partner coercive control or stalking. The Timeline represents a typical journey identified in research which explains how and why risk may be escalating. 

This interactive training session was designed for any professional who may respond to or take disclosures of domestic abuse or stalking, and those who manage offenders. 

Course overview 

• Introduction to the research that underpins the Homicide Timeline. 

• Introduction to coercive control and stalking, focusing on the perpetrator’s thinking and motivations, providing insight and practical help to identify patterns of control and stalking behaviours. 

• The 8 stages of the Homicide Timeline with evidence-based explanations as to why and how risk may be escalating. 

The CC Suicide Timeline is a framework for understanding risk escalation patterns in intimate partner relationships where coercive control and stalking are present. The CC Suicide Timeline represents a typical journey identified in research which explains how victims may be escalating towards self-harm or violence. 

The training was designed for professionals who respond to disclosures of domestic abuse or stalking, and those who manage offenders and focuses on the victim’s thinking and increasing entrapment. 

Learning Objectives 

By the end of the training delegates were able to: 

• Understand coercive control, the importance of chronic fear in coercively controlling relationships and how controlling patterns are introduced and maintained.

• Be familiar with the 8 stages of the CC Suicide Timeline.

• Understand the importance of violent resistance and entrapment.

• Use the CC Suicide Timeline as a tool to understand escalating risk of self-harm or violence.