Domestic Abuse or Violence

Definition:

Domestic abuse or violence relates to any incident or pattern of incidences that involves the misuse of power.
The abuse can take several forms such as: physical, sexual, financial, psychological, social or economic abuse or neglect by a partner, ex-partner, carer or one or more family members, in an existing or previous domestic relationship.

Actions to consider

In an emergency contact the Police on 999.
Speak to someone. If you are, or have experienced domestic abuse or violence, we are here to help. Our team of experienced and professional caseworkers can talk with you confidentially and offer guidance and support tailored to your needs.
There are many services; both local and national, that can provide support, information and advice such as Freeva. See our list of useful organisations on the right hand side of this page.
The decision making process faced by people who experience domestic abuse are complex. The decision to stay in an abusive relationship may be reasoned and logical, not irrational or hysterical. There are however some general tips if you are still in a relationship or know someone who is; this is also known as a safety plan.

Trusted friends and family: Agree a code word with a trusted friend, neighbour, relative or professional so they know if you are in danger or distressed and need access to urgent help. Make sure they know the plan and are up dated with any changes.
If you or someone you know is thinking of leaving, work out a plan for leaving. Including who to call, where to go and how to get there.
Planning an escape route within the home; consider access to phones, access to the outside, access to doors that lock. Identify rooms which are low risk and room that are high risk (for example a kitchen could be dangerous because of easy access to knives).
Pack an emergency bag and hide this in a safe place which is easily accessible if needed quickly. Some useful things to pack are important documents such as birth certificates and passports, spare keys, money, spare clothing, financial documents, copies of household bills, legal documents such as marriage certificates or divorce papers, medications and prescriptions.
Children; do they know the emergency plan, do they have a code word that will alert them to call emergency services, is there a plan for where the children can stay safely.

Clare’s Law – Right To Ask: The right to ask enables someone to ask the Police about a partner’s previous history of domestic violence or violent acts. This also includes members of the public that may be concerned about someone that is in a relationship with an abusive partner.
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