Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is also called domestic abuse and we describe it as an incident or pattern of behaviours that frighten, intimidate, threaten, terrorize, manipulate, degrade, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.

Domestic violence can happen in a range of relationships such as couples who are married, living together, or dating, by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer.

In the majority of cases, domestic violence is experienced by women and is committed by men.

Anyone can experience domestic violence, regardless of age, race, caste, class, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.

Domestic violence can be physical, emotional, verbal, financial and sexual and includes harmful practises such as forced marriage, so called honour-based violence,
dowry abuse, FGM etc.

How do you know if you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence?

 

If a partner or a family member:
  1. Does not allow you to go alone anywhere or without their permission or stops you from going out, going to school, working, meeting friends and family etc
  2. Hits you, slaps you, pinches you, throws objects at you, kicks you etc
  3. Strangles you or restrains you
  4. Shouts at you, calls you name, uses bad language at you etc
  5. Makes fun of you, puts you down, embarrasses you in public and threatens you
  6. Threatens to hurt your children and take your children away
  7. Takes all of your money and does not give you any money
  8. Checks your mobile phone/social media without your permission
  9. Forces, intimidates, or threatens you to have sex when you don’t want to have sex
  10. Does not allow you to take decisions
  11. If you are forced to get married or you feel that you have no choice but to get married
  12. Threatens to call the police and have you deported or to take you and/or children back to your country and leave you there
  13. Says that your actions or behaviour will dishonour the family
  14. Threatens to hurt or kill your family in your country
If you have answered “yes” to one or more of these questions this indicates that you may be experiencing domestic violence

Getting help

You’re not alone and we will support you. Asha is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm weekdays. You can call us on 020 8696 0023 or send a message via email, [email protected],uk or this website.

 

If you need help out of hours (5pm – 9.00 am next morning) we advise you to contact the police on 999.

You can also call these 24-hour emergency numbers for help.