Domestic abuse

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Every person has the right to live a life free from violence and abuse. If you are a victim of domestic abuse, or you know of someone who is, then please get help now.

Domestic abuse is any kind of violence or abuse between partners or family members. The Governments definition of domestic abuse is as follows:

The behaviour of a person towards another person is “domestic abuse” if both parties are each aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other, and the behaviour is abusive.

Abusive behaviour consists of any of the following:

• Physical or sexual abuse.
• Violent or threatening behaviour.
• Controlling behaviour: acts designed to make a person dependent by isolating them, exploiting resources, and regulating everyday conduct.
• Coercive behaviour: assault, threats, and intimidation used to harm or frighten victims.
• Economic abuse: interfering with an individual’s access to economic resources, limiting independence and safety.
• Psychological, emotional, or other abuse.

It does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct.