What is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, gender, religion, sexuality or ethnicity.

Domestic abuse is never the fault of the person who is experiencing it.

Domestic abuse is a crime.

Physical abuse

This includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate sanctions.

Sexual abuse

This includes rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented.

Emotional/psychological abuse

This includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.

Financial abuse

This includes theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.

Neglect/Acts of omission

This includes ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition, and heating, poor quality living environments.

Discriminatory abuse

This includes abuse based on a person’s race, sex, disability, faith, sexual orientation, or age; other forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment or hate crime/hate incident.

Forced marriage

A marriage without the consent of one or both parties and where duress is a factor.

Online and digital abuse

This can include behaviours such as monitoring of social media profiles or emails, abuse over social media such as Facebook or Twitter, sharing intimate photos or videos without your consent, using GPS locators or spyware.

Experiencing domestic abuse?

Emergency

In an emergency please call the police on 999

National Domestic Violence helpline: Freephone 0808 2000 247
A national helpline which is available every day of the year.