In this episode of The Domestic Abuse Breakthrough Show, I’m joined by law enforcement specialist Captain Eric Threlkeld to explore one of the biggest failures in how domestic abuse is understood and investigated.

Too often, cases are treated as isolated incidents — a single argument, a single injury, a single call-out.

But domestic abuse is not an incident.
It’s a pattern.

And when professionals fail to recognise that, risk isn’t just misunderstood — it’s missed entirely.

We discuss:

• Why incident-based policing puts victims at risk
• The importance of pattern recognition in domestic abuse cases
• How coercive control operates without visible violence
• The role of multidisciplinary teams in preventing escalation
• Why risk assessment tools are failing in practice — and what’s really going wrong
• How subtle threats, especially involving weapons, create fear and compliance without action

This episode is essential listening for professionals working in policing, safeguarding, family law, and support services — and for anyone who wants to understand what risk really looks like behind closed doors.

Because when we don’t understand risk…
we don’t just miss it.
We create the conditions for harm.

If you are navigating abuse, support links are in the linktree.
If you’re a professional or survivor ready to deepen your understanding, you can also register your interest in trauma-informed training and resources via the link provided.

https://linktr.ee/breakthecyclemovement

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericthrelkeld/