Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse is a pattern of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse by someone who is or has been an intimate partner or family member. This can include psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse. The incidents often become more frequent and severe with time.

Controlling behaviour are acts designed to make a person subordinate or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting them, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.

It is different from other forms of violence because;

• It is a repetitive pattern of behaviour
• It is the misuse of power and control
• It is intimate by nature and often involves trust and betrayal
• It occurs overwhelmingly in private and behind closed doors.

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, social background, gender, religion, sexuality or ethnicity. Whilst domestic abuse happens in all relationships, the vast majority of domestic abuse incidents are carried out by men towards women.

Domestic abuse is a crime. There are different organisations that can help women and girls to be safe and lead violence-free lives. We can all play a role to end violence against women and girls.

• DOMESTIC ABUSE information & training sessions delivered by the commissioned IDVA service Advance (Home - Advance Charity)

• The Asian Women’s Resource Centre (Asian Women's Resource Centre (AWRC) | Women's services Brent | Welfare advice Brent | Women's services Brent (asianwomencentre.org.uk) 

• The Iranian Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO) (IKWRO – IKWRO Women's Rights Organisation)

• HESTIA (https://www.hestia.org )

• FORWARD UK (FORWARD (forwarduk.org.uk))

• NATIONAL DOMESTIC ABUSE HELPLINE: Freephone, 24hour, 0808 2000 247       https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

• WHITE RIBBON: https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/promise