For advice on how to cover your tracks online visit the Women's Aid website. More help and advice about domestic abuse services is further down this page. In emergencies dial 999.
CloseDomestic Abuse can impact on many people’s lives, with up to 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men being affected by one of the many forms of domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse is also referred to as a hidden crime as it is believed that only 1 in 5 incidents are reported to the police as victims are often fearful of reporting what is happening to them, they rarely even tell family and friends.
We want to encourage everyone whether a victim, witness or concerned about someone, to speak out and help to reduce domestic abuse.
CloseDomestic abuse is the abuse of one partner within an intimate or family relationship.
It is the repeated physical, psychological, sexual or financial abuse by a person known to you, usually your partner or ex-partner or family member.
It is one person exerting systematic abusive power and control over another.
CloseIt can be experienced by women and men, whatever their race, age, class, colour, ability, religion or sexuality.
It can happen in all kinds of relationships:
- Heterosexual
- Lesbian
- Gay
- Bisexual
- Transgender
Abuse can begin at any stage of the relationship and may continue after the relationship has ended.
Domestic abuse is rarely a one-off incident. Incidents generally become more frequent and severe over time.
CloseAre you a victim?
- Make you afraid by using looks, actions and gestures like smashing things, destroying property or displaying weapons?
- Act extremely jealous of others who pay attention to you, or use jealousy to justify his/her actions?
- Control your finances, behaviour and even with whom you socialise?
- Threaten to kill you or commit suicide?
- Make all the decisions?
- Stop you from seeing or talking to friends, your family or limits outside involvement with others?
- Act like the abuse is no big deal and that it's your fault?
- Deny that he/she is being abusive or violent?
- Put you down in front of other people, humiliates you or plays mind games and makes you feel as if you are going mad?
- Prevent you from getting or keeping a job?
- Takes your money or does not let you know about or have access to the family income?
- Threatens to take away the children?
- Threatens to kill the pets?
- Become quiet when he/she is around and feel afraid of making him/her angry?
- Cancel plans at the last minute?
- Stop seeing your friends and family members and become more and more isolated?
- Find yourself explaining bruises to family or friends?
- Wear clothing to hide physical injury?
- If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions you may be involved in a relationship that is physically, emotionally, psychologically or sexually abusive
Everyone has the right to be safe in their own home and to live free from abuse, threat and fear.
There are things you can do to change your life.
You can choose what the best and safest option for you is.
From mobile phones to social networking sites such as Facebook, technology has become part of the way we live our lives. Although there are many benefits to the way we may choose to communicate with each other and seek information, these changes are increasingly putting people at risk of stalking and abuse. For further information on what cyber stalking is and how you can help to keep yourself safe please read the documents in the download section.
CloseCyber stalking downloads
Everything you do online leaves a trace.
Domestic abuse – support services
Locally in Wiltshire
- Relate Mid Wiltshire, 2 Prospect Place, Trowbridge. BA14 8QA
- Web: www.relatemidwiltshire.co.uk
- Tel: 01225 350010
- Appointments: 0300 003 1781
What they do:
An independent charity which works to help people achieve personal changes which enable them to engage in fulfilling relationships for the benefit of themselves, their family and society, working with individuals to either obtain help to change abusive behaviour or to encourage a move towards safety.
Counselling is available to individuals, couples, families, children and young people (from the age of 7).
Close- Web: www.relate.org.uk
- Tel: 0844 826 1788 / 01305 262 285
- Web: www.swindonsanctuary.co.uk
- Tel: 0808 168 0024 (24 hour helpline)
- Web: www.splitz.org
- Tel: 01225 777724
Splitz is an independent charity established in 1989.
We mend lives. We work free of charge with victims, children and perpetrators of domestic abuse. We work to encourage healthy relationships.
We do this by offering one-to-one support:
- For adult victims of abuse (Paloma Project)
- Support services for young people who have witnessed abuse (Young People’s Support Service)
- A scheme offering befriending and emotional support (Buddy Scheme)
- A voluntary programme for male perpetrators of domestic abuse to help change their harmful behaviour (Turnaround Programme)
- Web: www.victimsupport.org.uk
- Tel: 01380 738888
- Web: www.wiltshire.police.uk
- Tel: 101
Nationally
- Web: www.elderabuse.org.uk
- Tel: 0808 808 8141
- Web: www.barnardos.org.uk
- Tel: 020 8550 8822
- Web: www.brokenrainbow.org.uk
- Tel: 0300 999 5428
- Web: www.mensadviceline.org.uk
- Tel: 0808 801 0327
- National Domestic Abuse 24hr Helpline (Women’s Aid)
- Web: www.womensaid.org.uk
- Tel: 0808 2000 247
- Web: www.ncdv.org.uk
- Tel: 0844 8044 999 (Helpline, 24-hours)
For help text 'NCDV' to 60777
- Available to everybody
- Free legal advice Injunctions within 24 hours
- Completely confidential Legal aid available
- Web: www.victimsupport.org.uk
- Tel: 0845 30 30 900
- Web: www.nspcc.org.uk
- Tel: 0800 1111 / 0808 800 5000
- Web: www.refuge.org.uk
- Tel: 0808 200 0247 (Helpline, 24-hours)
- Web:·www.respect.gov.uk
- Tel: 0845 122 8609
- Web: www.samaritans.org
- Tel: 08457 90 90 90
