If you or someone you know needs is undergoing domestic abuse, here is a list of organisations that can offer support:
- Domestic Abuse Support Available Across All Areas ELFT Provides Services
- Women's Rights organisation for Middle Eastern, North African and Afghan women and girls living in the UK
What is domestic abuse?
The Government's definition of domestic violence and abuse is: 'Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening. behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have. been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 creates a statutory definition of domestic abuse based on the existing cross-government definition.
‘Abusive behaviour’ is defined in the act as any of the following:
- physical or sexual abuse
- violent or threatening behaviour
- controlling or coercive behaviour
- economic abuse
- psychological, emotional or other abuse
For the definition to apply, both parties must be aged 16 or over and ‘personally connected’.
‘Personally connected’ is defined in the act as parties who:
- are married to each other
- are civil partners of each other
- have agreed to marry one another (whether or not the agreement has been terminated)
- have entered into a civil partnership agreement (whether or not the agreement has been terminated)
- are or have been in an intimate personal relationship with each other
- have, or there has been a time when they each have had, a parental relationship in relation to the same child
- are relatives
Spotting the signs
- Is your partner jealous and possessive?
- Is your partner charming one minute and abusive the next?
- Does your partner tell you what to wear, where to go, who to see?
- Does your partner constantly put you down?
- Does your partner play mind games and make you doubt your judgment?
- Does your partner control your money, or make sure you are dependent on him for everyday things?
- Does your partner pressure you to have sex when you don’t want to?
- Are you starting to walk on eggshells to avoid making your partner angry?
- Does your partner control your access to medicine, devices or care that you need?
- Does your partner monitor or track your movements or messages?
- Does your partner use anger and intimidation to frighten and control you?
Anyone forced to change their behaviour because they are frightened of their partner or ex-partner’s reaction is experiencing abuse. Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, gender, religion, sexuality or ethnicity.
However, statistics show most domestic abuse is carried out by men and experienced by women. Domestic abuse is never the fault of the person who is experiencing it. Domestic abuse is a crime.