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Are you in immediate danger?

Call 999 and ask for the police. If you cannot speak on a mobile, listen to the operator and press 55 if prompted.

999 - Emergency

Understanding domestic abuse and finding support.

If something does not feel right in your relationship, you deserve to understand what is happening and what support is available. You do not have to wait for an emergency to ask for help.

UNDERSTANDING ABUSE

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is not limited to physical violence. It can include a single incident or a pattern of behaviour between partners, ex-partners or family members that is abusive, threatening, controlling or coercive. Abuse may be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or economic.

RECOGNISING ABUSE

Domestic abuse can take many forms.

Abuse can look different for every woman. These are some of the behaviours you may experience.

01

Physical abuse

Hitting, pushing, restraining, hurting you or threatening physical harm.

04

Economic abuse

Controlling money, preventing you from working, taking money or restricting access to essentials.

02

Controlling or coercive behaviour

Controlling where you go, who you see, what you wear or monitoring your phone and movements.

03

Emotional & psychological abuse

Humiliation, intimidation, threats, manipulation, criticism or making you feel frightened or worthless.

05

Sexual abuse

Pressuring, coercing or forcing sexual activity or contact without your consent.

06

Threats & intimidation

Threatening you, your children, family or others as a way of frightening or controlling you.

OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE & ABUSE

Abuse is not always limited to an intimate partner.

Some women may experience abuse involving family members, wider community pressure or harmful practices. These can overlap with domestic abuse and may involve more than one perpetrator.

So-called “honour”-based abuse

Abuse carried out to protect or defend what a family or community believes to be its “honour”. It can include threats, coercion, isolation, physical abuse, emotional abuse and controlling behaviour.

Forced marriage

A marriage where one or both people do not, or cannot, freely consent and pressure, abuse or coercion is used. Forced marriage is illegal in the UK.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

FGM is a harmful practice involving procedures that intentionally alter or injure female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is illegal in the UK and is a serious safeguarding concern.

Abuse by family members

Domestic abuse can also be perpetrated by family members and may involve several people acting together to control, threaten or harm someone

Stalking, harassment & online abuse

This can include repeated unwanted contact, monitoring, following, tracking location, accessing accounts, online threats or sharing intimate images.

Sexual violence

Sexual violence includes any sexual act or activity without consent. It can happen within or outside an intimate relationship.

Non Violentiam CIC can help women access safe accommodation where our service is suitable and can support referrals into appropriate specialist agencies.