Domestic abuse can be any incident or pattern or incidents of abuse between those aged 16 years and over who are personally connected to one another.
Being personally connected includes: being or having been married or civil partners; being or having been intimate partners; being relatives/ family members.
Domestic abuse can include:
- Physical abuse (but domestic abuse is not always physical)
- Emotional and psychological abuse
- Sexual violence and abuse (even in a relationship, individuals must freely consent to sexual acts)
- Financial/ economic abuse
- Controlling and coercive 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.
Domestic abuse is illegal in England and Wales under the Domestic Abuse Act (2021).
Domestic abuse can affect people across society regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, wealth and geography.
The organisation Women’s Aid have information, support for victim/survivors and family members, and a helpline for domestic abuse available here.