Domestic abuse

Understanding Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender identity, sex, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity. However, statistics show that most domestic abuse is perpetrated by men and experienced by women. According to the Office for National Statistics, an estimated 14.0% of women and 8.6% of men experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking in the last year.

Domestic abuse is not limited to physical violence. It can involve a range of abusive behaviours or a pattern of behaviour used to maintain power and control within a relationship.

Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, domestic abuse is legally defined as abusive behaviour between people aged 16 or over who are personally connected.

Types of Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse can take many forms, including:

Psychological and Emotional Abuse

This can include name-calling, threats, intimidation, manipulation, blaming you for the abuse, or making you question your own experiences and memories, sometimes referred to as "gaslighting".

Coercive Control

Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour used to exert power and control over another person over time. It is a criminal offence.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is not limited to hitting. It can include restraining someone, throwing objects, pinching, pushing or shoving, even when these actions are dismissed as a "joke".

Technology-Facilitated Abuse

This can include abusive messages, demanding access to your devices or accounts, tracking your movements using spyware or apps, or sharing intimate images without your consent.

Economic Abuse

Economic abuse involves controlling a person's access to money, finances or other resources. An abuser may take your wages, prevent you from working, restrict your access to funds, or place you in debt without your knowledge or consent.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse does not always involve physical violence. It can include manipulation, coercion, pressure or deception to make someone engage in sexual activity they do not want.

Getting help and support

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing abuse, support is available. Refuge, Women’s Aid, SafeLives, NCDV, Citizens Advice and The Mankind Initiative are some of the organisations who provide information and support. 

Refuge is the UK's largest specialist domestic abuse organisation. 
Women’s Aid is the national charity in England working to end domestic abuse against women and children. Information about the services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is available here. 
SafeLives is a UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse. It works with organisations across the UK to transform the response to domestic abuse.
NCDV, the National Centre for Domestic Violence, is a community interest company providing a free emergency injunction service for domestic abuse.
Citizens Advice is a national charity and network of local charities offer confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. 
The Mankind Initiative is a specialist charity in the UK focusing on male victims of domestic abuse. 

If English is not your first language, the Home Office has information on how to get support that has been translated into several languages here. 

Domestic abuse forms part of the wider issue of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). This also includes other forms of abuse and family violence, such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and so-called 'honour-based' abuse, which can involve multiple perpetrators, including family members. Find out more about Forced marriage, Honour-based crimes and FGM. 

Supporting a survivor