Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, personally connected to each other.
Children are victims of domestic abuse if they see, hear, or experience the effects of the abuse, and are related to either of the parties over 16 years.
Behaviour is “abusive” if it consists of any of the following:
- physical violence or abuse
- sexual violence, coercion, pressure to engage in acts of sex that you don’t want to
- violent or threatening behaviours
- controlling or coercive behaviours
- financial abuse
- psychological, emotional, or other abuse
Read the government's legal definition of domestic abuse.
Recognise domestic abuse
Does your partner, ex-partner or someone you live with:
- cut you off from family and friends and intentionally isolate you?
- bully, threaten, or control you?
- take control of your finances?
- monitor or limit your use of technology?
- physically and/or sexually abuse you?
Domestic abuse is not always physical violence. It can also include:
- coercive control and ‘gaslighting’
- financial abuse
- online abuse
- threats and intimidation
- emotional abuse
- sexual abuse
Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.
If you believe that you are a victim of domestic abuse, there are signs that you can look out for including:
- being withdrawn, or being isolated from your family and friends
- having bruises, burns or bite marks on you
- having your finances controlled, or not being given enough to buy food, medication or pay bills
- not being allowed to leave your house, or stopped from going to college or work
- having your internet or social media use monitored, or someone else reading your texts, emails or letters
- being repeatedly belittled, put down or told you are worthless
- being pressured into sex or sexual contact
- being told that abuse is your fault, or that you’re overreacting
Honour based violence
There is currently no legal definition of Honour Based Abuse in England, but a common definition has been adopted across government and criminal justice agencies: ‘A crime or incident which has, or may have been, committed to protect or defend the honour of the family or community'.
Find out more on Honour Based Violence.
Domestic abuse information in easy read format
Dorset Police have an easy read version of what domestic abuse is.
Domestic abuse information in other languages
The government have domestic abuse information that can be translated into several other languages.
Signhealth - The Death Health Charity
Website: Signhealth