🏡 Domestic abuse - Part 1...

Hello All

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at Domestic abuse. It affects people from all walks of life and in many different ways. Find out what classes as domestic abuse, how to report it and how, under Clare’s Law, you can find out if a partner has a history of domestic violence or abuse. We’ll also show you how to delete your visit here from your web history, if you need to.

🏡 What is Domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour. It happens between people aged 16 and over and their partners, ex-partners or family members.

There only needs to be one incident for it to be domestic abuse. However, it often happens more than once. It can happen to anyone, no matter their ethnicity, gender, sexuality or social background.

If you’re a victim of domestic abuse, these are just some of the things you might experience:
•    physical abuse like pushing, slapping, kicking, choking or being hit with an object.
•    reckless driving which is meant to scare you.
•    threats of physical abuse, intimidation and stalking.
•    emotional abuse, like name calling, continually being put down and humiliation
•    controlling behaviour like making you ask permission to do something, telling you who you can talk to and where you can go.
•    trapping you at home so you can’t leave.
•    sexual abuse, like forcing you to dress or behave in a sexual way, or holding you down during sex.
•    stopping you from accessing your money, not letting you work, or giving you an allowance.
•    digital and online domestic abuse, which you can find out more in the next few weeks. 
•    honour-based abuse and forced marriage.

If what you’ve experienced isn’t listed above, it doesn’t mean you’re not a victim of domestic abuse.

You can visit the Crown Prosecution Service website for a further breakdown of the types of domestic abuse.

🏡 Report it...

If you’ve experienced anything like the above from a partner, ex-partner or family member, it’s likely you’re a victim of domestic abuse.

You're not to blame for what's happening. You're not alone. You can report it to us online. On that page you will find advice on how you can help keep yourself safe during the reporting process.

If the person doing this to you isn’t a partner, ex-partner or family member, you can still report it to us using our online crime reporting service.

🏡 Children and young people under 16...

If you’re under 16 and have experienced any of the above, it’s child abuse, and we can help you. Please visit our child abuse advice pages where you can get more information on how we can help.

🏡 Support...

If you’re not ready to speak to the police, you can contact support organisations who will help you.

You can find a list of national and local support organisations by visiting our support organisations page.

📖 Domestic abuse: a survivor's story...

Watch these three videos (https://www.derbyshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/what-is-domestic-abuse/)Katie Royle, who suffered alone as the victim of an intensely coercive and controlling relationship. Katie's talking to Sergeant Ebony Lee.

Chapter one: Katie discusses how the relationship went from what she thought was caring behaviour to abuse. (We apologise that around half way through the sound quality reduces for about a minute.)

Chapter two: Katie on how she reached breaking point and knew she had to seek help.

Chapter three: After her former partner’s conviction, Katie urges others in the same situation to take action, and Sergeant Lee explains what support is available when reporting domestic abuse to the police or other organisations.

#VAWG #It'sOktoSay 

Thanks, PCSO Kirsty Hunt