Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, by a partner, ex-partner, a family member, or carer.
Domestic abuse (sometimes referred to as ‘domestic violence’ or ‘intimate partner violence’) can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time in a relationship. It can affect anyone, from any background and of any age and at any point in a relationship.
Domestic abuse isn’t always physical. Any type of threatening, controlling or coercive behaviour is abuse – whether it’s physical, psychological, sexual, economic or emotional.
The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to:
- coercive or controlling behaviour
- physical abuse
- sexual abuse
- economic and financial abuse
- psychological and emotional abuse
- ‘honour’-based abuse and forced marriage
- stalking and harassment
- online and digital abuse
The Government definition also outlines the following:
- 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.
- 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.
- It also includes so called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.
Strangulation and Suffocation have been stand-alone offences across England and Wales since 7th June 2022, according to the Domestic Abuse Act (2021) and the Serious Crime Act (2015). These offences apply in all cases where non-fatal strangulation occurs, including within a domestic abuse context.
For more information please visit Domestic Abuse (sefton.gov.uk) (webpage opens in new window)
Understanding Domestic Abuse
Please watch the video below produced by NHS England Safeguarding Team, to help people understand what Domestic Abuse could look like and where to find support.
Domestic Abuse Factsheets
Below you will find some Factsheet of information relating to Domestic Abuse:
Individual stories of Domestic Abuse
Below are two videos of both male and female victims sharing their story of Domestic Abuse
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NHS video where two women describe their experiences of Domestic Abuse and how they found the strength and support to leave their situation.
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Sky News video of a male victim describing the Domestic Abuse suffered at the hands of his wife.
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