Domestic Abuse
What is Domestic Abuse?
Any incident of pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse:
- psychological
- physical
- sexual
- financial
- emotional
Controlling behaviour
Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.
Coercive behaviour
Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.
This cross-government definition includes so called 'honour’ based violence (HBV), female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage (FM). Domestic abuse occurs across society, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, wealth, and geography.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimates of domestic abuse are based on a Government definition that includes young people aged 16 to 17 and coercive or controlling behaviour.
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales year ending March 2020:
- an estimated 5.5% of adults aged 16 to 74 years (2.3 million) experienced domestic abuse in the last year. This equates to an estimated 7.3% of female victims (1.6 million) and 3.6% of male victims (757,000).
- 4.0% of men and 8.1% of women aged 16 to 59 years had experienced domestic abuse within the last year.
- Domestic abuse accounts for over one third of all violent crime in the England and Wales.
- An average of 2 women are killed by their partner or ex-partner each week.
A criminal offence of coercive or controlling behaviour against an intimate partner or family member came into force on 29 December 2015 and carries a maximum penalty for someone found guilty of five years imprisonment. Coercive control is:
An act or pattern of acts of
- Assault
- Threats
- Humiliation
- Intimidation
- Other abuse – used to harm, punish or frighten victims
A range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependant by
- Isolating them from sources of support
- Exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain
- Depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance or escape
- Regulating everyday behaviour
You can visit our Campaigns page for more information about coercive control.
If you think a friend or family member, or a colleague or client is experiencing domestic abuse, there are things you can do to help.
- Find out information about local specialists services and help.
- Offer any practical help you are able to, such as the use of your telephone or address for information or messages.
- Offer help to protect them. For example, you could offer to inform the police or support agencies on their behalf or encourage them to talk to a counsellor.
- As an employer, show executive commitment and workplace policy to prevent domestic violence, to support employees affected by domestic violence, including referral to specialist services.
- Speak up when you hear or see attitudes or behaviours that support violence against women.
- Provide promotional materials and information to help raise awareness of domestic violence.
Victims First also includes domestic abuse awareness within its Victims First Connect programme
If you have been a victim of domestic abuse you can access support by contacting Victims First or find your local domestic abuse service by searching in our directory. The type of support available could include a help line, practical or emotional support, face to face support, group work and/ or counselling to help you cope and recover from the impact of the crime.
More information on domestic abuse and ways you can get support can be found on the Reducing the Risk website