What is domestic abuse?
Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, whatever your gender, age, ethnicity, or background. If you, or someone you know, suffers from someone else’s behaviour, please know you’re not alone.
If you, or someone you know, are at immediate risk of injury or harm, phone the police on 999 immediately.
Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading or violent behaviour, including sexual violence. In the majority of cases, the perpetrator is a partner or ex-partner, but it could also be a family member or carer.
There are different forms of domestic abuse:
- Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
- Psychological and/or emotional abuse
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Financial and economic abuse
- Stalking and harassment
- Online or digital abuse
- Honour based violence
- Forced marriage
- Female genital mutilation
Support services
Organisations that can provide support and assistance
How can we help?
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, you can talk to us in confidence.
-
We’ll listen to you.
-
With your permission we can refer you to domestic abuse services that can give you advice, support and information.
-
We’ll discuss your housing options with you, and tell you what we can do to make you and your family safer in your home.
-
We’ll work with the police and other agencies to help keep you and your family safe.
You can contact us for advice by calling 0800 916 1522.
If you or another person are in immediate danger, please contact the police by calling 999.