Gardai say they’re monitoring changes in the law in Britain in the area of domestic abuse.

Coercive control in intimate relationships is now an offence in England and Wales, and will soon be in Scotland.

But the Domestic Violence Bill, which is being debated here, does not contain a ban on such behaviour.

Superintendent Michael Daly is with the Garda National Protective Services Bureau.

He says he’s not sure if legislating against coercive control would stop it;

Women and children threatened by violence wonÂ’t be protected by the current Domestic Violence Bill.

ThatÂ’s according to Safe Ireland, who want coercive control recognised as a specific offence.

There are concerns in Government that it is too problematic to provide a definition for it in law.

Juliette Gash reports;

Ireland can either follow Russia and decriminalise domestic abuse or take it seriously-Prof Evan Stark @SAFEIreland pic.twitter.com/QzOVszbIco

— Juliette Gash (@JulietteGash) July 11, 2017

Coercive control is about violence, and its repeated again and again. Prof Evan Stark. Micro-control of women's lives pic.twitter.com/lGOPZhLDyg

— Juliette Gash (@JulietteGash) July 11, 2017