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Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people who are, or who have been in a relationship, regardless of gender or sexuality. It can also happen between adults who are related to one another.

Domestic abuse can include:

  • coercive control such as being told where to go and what to wear or being isolated from friends and family
  • physical abuse such as being punched, kicked, cut, or being hit with an object
  • emotional abuse such as being constantly undermined, sworn at, intimidated, ridiculed, harassed, or threatened with harm or death
  • sexual abuse and rape including within a relationship or being made to have sex with other people
  • stalking and harassment such as being repeatedly followed or spied on, being regularly given unwanted gifts or receiving unwanted communication
  • economic and financial abuse such as having access to money controlled or withheld or being prevented from earning money
  • technology-facilitated abuse such as having messages and emails monitored or deleted, constantly being sent messages or calls, or being tracked via device location

Key legislation

Legislation in England, Northern Ireland and Wales states that "seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another person" is a form of harm.

In England and Wales, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises children as victims of domestic abuse if they “see, hear or otherwise experience the effects of abuse”. It specifies that domestic abuse occurs if those involved in the abusive behaviour are aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other.

The Act also places a duty on local authorities in England to support all victims of domestic abuse in safe accommodation such as refuges.

Safe2Speak offers support to any resident of St Helens who is a victim of domestic abuse, whatever your living situation.

 

**FURTHER KEY READING FOR ST HELENS PRACTITIONERS**

Frontline Practitioners Briefing: JTAI of the multi-agency response to children who are victims of domestic abuse

Domestic Abuse