https://bridgetojustice.im Writing on coercive control, financial abuse, safeguarding and institutional failure. en-gb https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-teenage-love-becomes-ownership https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-teenage-love-becomes-ownership Teenage relationships can be intense, emotional and sometimes chaotic. That does not mean every harmful pattern should be dismissed as immaturity or teenage drama. Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/beyond-the-crisis-understanding-the-story-before-suicide https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/beyond-the-crisis-understanding-the-story-before-suicide As World Suicide Prevention Day approaches, much of the conversation rightly focuses on mental health, recognising the warning signs and encouraging people to seek help. Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/suicide-awareness-month-every-story-begins-long-before-the-ending https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/suicide-awareness-month-every-story-begins-long-before-the-ending But after years of investigating coercive control, safeguarding failures, mental health, suicide, elder financial abuse and institutional behaviour, I’ve become increasingly uncomfortable with how much of the responsibility for suicide prevention we place upon the person who is already struggling to survive. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-silence-becomes-somebody-elses-evidence https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-silence-becomes-somebody-elses-evidence There is a particular kind of situation that is extraordinarily difficult to deal with. A disagreement, complaint or breakdown occurs between people. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/from-apology-to-accountability https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/from-apology-to-accountability Every major public scandal begins with a failure. Because there is one question that rarely gets asked. Across the UK, we’ve seen this pattern time and time again. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-doing-good-provides-cover https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-doing-good-provides-cover We are taught to trust people who do good. The fundraiser. The volunteer. The philanthropist. The person who gives years of their life to a charitable cause. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/what-accountability-actually-requires https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/what-accountability-actually-requires Something said on Good Morning Britain this morning stopped me in my tracks. Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-a-power-of-attorney-becomes-a-weapon https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-a-power-of-attorney-becomes-a-weapon Bridge to Justice was recently invited to contribute to The Sunday Times investigation into the misuse of Lasting Powers of Attorney. Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/question-substitution https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/question-substitution One of the most powerful tools available to any institution is not legal advice. At Bridge to Justice, we’ve watched this happen time and time again. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/they-didnt-just-go-off-the-rails https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/they-didnt-just-go-off-the-rails When a teenager or very young adult appears in court accused of supplying drugs, we tend to meet them at the end of the story. Nineteen years old. Drugs. Supply. Court. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-language-of-institutional-self-protection https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-language-of-institutional-self-protection Or did you simply answer the correspondence?. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-accountability-gap-when-an-apology-isnt-the-end-of-the-story https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-accountability-gap-when-an-apology-isnt-the-end-of-the-story A recent case has highlighted exactly why that distinction matters. To protect the individual concerned, no names are used in this article. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/police-have-held-the-brush-for-too-long-while-vulnerable-people-were-swept-under-the-carpet https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/police-have-held-the-brush-for-too-long-while-vulnerable-people-were-swept-under-the-carpet The Isle of Man’s role in disrupting major global financial crime should be recognised. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-system-is-designed-to-pass-harm-sideways-until-the-victim-runs-out-of-road https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-system-is-designed-to-pass-harm-sideways-until-the-victim-runs-out-of-road Some people will read that line and know exactly what it means. Before they even get to the second paragraph. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-parrot-letter-pattern-when-a-letter-is-not-the-whole-truth https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-parrot-letter-pattern-when-a-letter-is-not-the-whole-truth It may say the older person is “of sound mind”. It may accuse one child of interfering, upsetting the family or causing trouble. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/she-told-them-she-was-afraid-she-told-them-her-money-had-been-stolen-they-closed-the-case https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/she-told-them-she-was-afraid-she-told-them-her-money-had-been-stolen-they-closed-the-case She had recently lost her husband and had been too ill to attend his funeral. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-gift-isnt-always-kindness-sometimes-its-about-control https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-gift-isnt-always-kindness-sometimes-its-about-control If it were, many victims would leave far sooner. Instead, coercive control often follows a repeating pattern. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-cost-of-being-the-one-who-noticed https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-cost-of-being-the-one-who-noticed People often imagine smear campaigns as something organised. Today, all it can take is one carefully chosen photograph. A post asking an innocent-looking question. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/power-of-attorney-protection-or-opportunity-for-abuse https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/power-of-attorney-protection-or-opportunity-for-abuse A Power of Attorney is one of the most important legal documents many people will ever sign. Used properly, it protects people. Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-smear-campaign-part-1 https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-smear-campaign-part-1 When people think about coercive control, they often imagine one person controlling another. What they don’t see is something much bigger. Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-presumption-problem https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-presumption-problem Every time a tragedy happens, we ask the same question. What assumptions did we make along the way?. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-the-record-becomes-the-reality https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-the-record-becomes-the-reality There is a question I find myself asking more and more. Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-systems-become-barriers https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-systems-become-barriers When someone dies, families are often left with questions. Sometimes those questions are simply part of the grieving process. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/independent-report https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/independent-report Hundreds of people boarded the Manannan on 26 October 2025 expecting nothing more than a routine crossing between Liverpool and the Isle of Man. Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-suicide-isnt-the-beginning-of-the-story https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-suicide-isnt-the-beginning-of-the-story Every suicide leaves behind one question: Sadly, that question is often answered far too quickly. Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-gatekeeper-problem https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-gatekeeper-problem Modern justice, safeguarding and healthcare systems often depend upon gatekeepers. Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-most-dangerous-person-in-the-room-may-not-be-the-decision-maker https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-most-dangerous-person-in-the-room-may-not-be-the-decision-maker Society places enormous faith in decision-makers. We trust judges to weigh evidence fairly. We trust Coroners to establish the facts. Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-weight-of-being-believed https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-weight-of-being-believed A police officer investigates an incident. A judge determines the issues placed before the court. Yet the overall picture may still be incomplete. Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-forgotten-transition-when-young-people-leave-school-and-enter-the-workplace https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-forgotten-transition-when-young-people-leave-school-and-enter-the-workplace We spend years preparing young people for exams. We spend very little time preparing them for work. Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-predatory-pathway https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-predatory-pathway When people hear the phrase predatory marriage, they often picture an elderly widow being persuaded to marry a much younger person shortly before her death. Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-facade-of-the-perfect-parent https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-facade-of-the-perfect-parent The Facade of the Perfect Parent Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-problem-isnt-that-nobody-knew https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-problem-isnt-that-nobody-knew When something terrible happens, we often hear the same questions. The problem was not always a lack of recognition. The problem was what happened after recognition. Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-illness-becomes-a-tool https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-illness-becomes-a-tool One of the most disturbing lessons from cases involving factitious disorders is not the diagnosis itself. It is the pattern that sits underneath it. Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/vulnerability-harvesting-the-story-behind-the-story https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/vulnerability-harvesting-the-story-behind-the-story A pilot fights worsening conditions over the Atlantic. A co-pilot begins experiencing symptoms in the cockpit. Emergency services prepare for an incoming aircraft. Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/social-media-ai-and-vulnerability-harvesting-the-new-hunting-ground-for-predators https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/social-media-ai-and-vulnerability-harvesting-the-new-hunting-ground-for-predators For years, many people understood online fraud through the language of romance scams. A stranger would build trust, create emotional dependence, then ask for money. Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/adolescent-domestic-abuse-the-hidden-crisis-affecting-both-boys-and-girls https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/adolescent-domestic-abuse-the-hidden-crisis-affecting-both-boys-and-girls But one of the most overlooked safeguarding issues today is adolescent domestic abuse. Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-safeguarding-gap-in-powers-of-attorney-uk-and-isle-of-man https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-safeguarding-gap-in-powers-of-attorney-uk-and-isle-of-man A capacity assessment determines whether a person understands a decision at a specific moment. Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-the-law-exists-but-the-system-fails-why-coercive-control-still-costs-lives https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-the-law-exists-but-the-system-fails-why-coercive-control-still-costs-lives This document outlines structural and systemic gaps within the Isle of Man’s safeguarding, justice and oversight frameworks. Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/whistleblowing-retaliation-and-the-recognition-of-cumulative-harm https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/whistleblowing-retaliation-and-the-recognition-of-cumulative-harm The Bigger Question Emerging from the UK Whistleblowing Appeals At first glance, the recent Court of Appeal ruling in Rice v Wicked Vision Ltd and Barton Turns Developments Ltd v Treadwell appears to concern a narrow area of employment law. Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/funeral-director-regulation-coercive-control-and-the-safeguarding-blind-spot-nobody-wants-to-talk-about https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/funeral-director-regulation-coercive-control-and-the-safeguarding-blind-spot-nobody-wants-to-talk-about A recent Tynwald question asking whether the Office of Fair Trading has investigated the possible regulation of funeral directors on the Isle of Man may appear, at first glance, to be a niche issue. Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/capacity-does-not-equal-protection https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/capacity-does-not-equal-protection There is legislation in place, including: It is failure to apply it properly in real-world situations. Official figures suggest these cases are rare. Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/compliance https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/compliance There is another side to coercive control that is often misunderstood. Not because someone is weak. Not because they agree. Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/from-pattern-to-crisis-the-cost-of-getting-it-wrong https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/from-pattern-to-crisis-the-cost-of-getting-it-wrong From Pattern to Crisis – The Cost of Getting It Wrong This article is part of a series exploring what domestic abuse really looks like, how coercive control operates and why so many cases are still being missed. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-pattern-behind-the-abuse https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-pattern-behind-the-abuse This Article is part of a series exploring what domestic abuse really looks like, how coercive control operate and why so many cases are still being missed. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-system-vs-reality-why-cases-are-missed https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-system-vs-reality-why-cases-are-missed This article is part of a series exploring what domestic abuse really looks like, how coercive control operates and why so many cases are still being missed. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/what-is-domestic-abuse https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/what-is-domestic-abuse The Abuse You Can’t See – But the Law Says Exists This article is part of a series exploring what domestic abuse really looks like, how coercive control operates and why so many cases are still being missed. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-abuse-doesnt-look-like-abuse https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-abuse-doesnt-look-like-abuse This article is part of a series exploring what domestic abuse really looks like, how coercive control operates and why so many cases are still being missed. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/this-was-not-missed-it-was-dismissed https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/this-was-not-missed-it-was-dismissed Not in one case. Not in one place. But across the UK, the Isle of Man and beyond. A vulnerable person raises concerns. A family member raises concerns. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-justice-cannot-see-the-crime https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-justice-cannot-see-the-crime Across the UK and the Isle of Man, the law recognises offences such as domestic abuse, coercive control, fraud and financial exploitation of vulnerable people. Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/coercive-control-is-a-pattern-not-an-incident https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/coercive-control-is-a-pattern-not-an-incident I think fast. I connect dots quickly. I see patterns before many people do. Sometimes when I’m put on the spot, my brain runs ahead of my mouth. Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-opinion-becomes-outcome https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-opinion-becomes-outcome Independent Corroboration, Digital Narrative Control and the Structural Risks in Coercive Control Cases In safeguarding, probate and capacity disputes, professional opinion carries significant weight. Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-coercive-control-kills https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-coercive-control-kills For years, coercive control has been treated as a niche issue. A form of domestic abuse that sits somewhere below physical violence. Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/coercive-control-at-scale https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/coercive-control-at-scale When people think of human trafficking, they often picture one trafficker and one victim. Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-medicine-becomes-a-tool-of-control https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-medicine-becomes-a-tool-of-control Most people believe abuse requires violence. Bruises. Shouting. Threats. Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/how-coercive-control-patterns-show-up-in-real-cases https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/how-coercive-control-patterns-show-up-in-real-cases And why lived experience spots what systems miss People often ask: “How can you tell it’s coercive control?” The answer is simple: Because the same patterns keep turning up, again and again. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/romance-scams-and-domestic-abuse https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/romance-scams-and-domestic-abuse Same abuse patterns. Two very different realities. When people talk about romance scams, they are usually talking about online abuse. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-the-whistle-is-blown-but-the-system-doesnt-listen https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-the-whistle-is-blown-but-the-system-doesnt-listen “The problem on the Isle of Man is not that people fail to blow the whistle. Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/parental-alienation https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/parental-alienation Parental alienation is often talked about as something that happens after parents separate. A messy breakup. A high-conflict dispute. A child “choosing sides”. Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/transparency-in-will-drafting-not-just-for-lawyers https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/transparency-in-will-drafting-not-just-for-lawyers Wills are not always prepared by solicitors. In practice, they may be drafted by a range of professionals, advisers or organisations. Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-abuse-doesnt-look-like-abuse-until-its-too-late https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/when-abuse-doesnt-look-like-abuse-until-its-too-late I want to talk about a friend who died in 2008, aged just 47. She was bright, funny, clever, a nurse, a devoted mum. Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-protector-clause-that-looks-like-governance-but-acts-like-control https://bridgetojustice.im/articles/the-protector-clause-that-looks-like-governance-but-acts-like-control A way to protect wealth, families and future generations. But hidden within many of these structures is a role that few outside the industry truly understand. Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT