What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is “any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality”. Behaviours could include:
Psychological: isolation from family and friends, intimidation, degradation, harassment
Physical: pushing, slapping, hitting, punching, biting, strangling, murder
Sexual: indecent assault, rape, unwanted sexual activity
Financial: keeping all the money, not allowing their partner to earn their own money, making their partner beg
Emotional: name calling, bullying, threats, constant criticism, blaming
Clare’s Law – Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme
Clare’s Law enables members of the public to have a “Right to ask” police if their current partner poses a risk to them in terms of their history of domestic abuse. The scheme also enables professionals to raise a “Right to know” request through the police. It applies where they feel someone may be at risk of domestic abuse and they have some reasonable concern or knowledge about the individual’s past. A right to ask can also be made by a third person, for example a parent, relative or friend who is concerned. In these cases, if a disclosure is to be made, it will only be made to the potential victim of abuse.
Help and Support
If you need help to break the cycle of abuse, for yourself or someone else, please call the Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 731 0055 for confidential advice and support. If someone is in immediate danger, dial 999.
Bright Sky
Bright Sky is a free to download mobile app providing support and information for anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.
The app is also available to use in Polish, Punjabi and Urdu.
For more information, please see details and advice about using the app in your app store:
Further Bright Sky support is also available under the NHS Support Now page called Finding calm amongst the chaos.
