What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is committed by someone’s intimate
partner or ex-partner. It can also happen if you are in a
same-sex relationship. Every person’s experience of living in an
abusive relationship is different. It can include violence, such as
punching, slapping, burning, strangling
and beating.
It may also involve:
- Having little or no choice about seeing friends and
relatives
- Not being able to go out when you want or being given
deadlines
- Being criticised or made to feel stupid
- Being made to feel afraid
- Being threatened
- Being forced to have sex or be sexual in ways you are not
comfortable with
- Not being allowed to be involved in financial
decisions
Domestic abuse is used to maintain power and control over
another person.
Domestic abuse is rarely a one-off event and tends to get more
severe and happen more often over time. It is important to remember
that it is a crime and those who commit such crimes must answer for
their behaviour.
Everyone has the right to live without the fear of violence and
abuse.
If you are worried about domestic abuse, you could contact one
of the helpline numbers in this section or you could get help from
your:
- Doctor
- Health Visitor
- Teacher
- School Nurse
- Youth Worker
You are not alone. One in four women and one in six men
experience domestic abuse at some stage in their lives.
Every minute of every day the police in the UK receive a call
for assistance with a domestic abuse incident.
If you are worried that a friend or loved one is being abused,
there are things you can do to help:
- Your friend might be feeling very lonely. They might feel too
embarrassed or scared to talk about the abuse. Let them know that
you are worried about them and that you are there if they want to
talk.
- Give them time. It might take a while before they feel like
they can truly open up to you.
- Don’t judge them or tell them what to do. They may feel that
they still love their abuser or that they want to give their abuser
another chance.
- Make sure you know where they can get help when they are ready
an help them plan their safety using the advice on these
pages.
It’s natural to want your friend to be safe, but they have to
make their own decisions in their own time.
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SaferPeterborough Domestic Abuse Strategy 2012 to 2015
(290KB, 12 pages)
Abuse in Relationships
(749KB, 9 pages)