Speak out Wiltshire

For advice on how to cover your tracks online visit Women's aid Cover your tracks online (opens new window) website. More help and advice about domestic abuse services is further down this page.  In emergencies dial 999.

Domestic 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.  

Domestic 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.

It 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.

Does your partner: 

• 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?

Do you: 

• 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.

Please see further down the page for a number of online resources and help lines you can access.

• Web: FearFree: Wiltshire (opens new window)
• Email: spa@fearfree.org.uk (opens new window)

Wiltshire Single Point of Access (SPA) Team

• Tel: 01225 775276 - Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm 
• Wiltshire out of hours helpline: 01225 712880 (5pm to 8am Monday to Friday and 24 hours at the weekend)

FearFree Support Service 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
• support services for young people who have witnessed abuse 
• a scheme offering befriending and emotional support (Buddy Scheme)
• a voluntary programme for male perpetrators of domestic abuse to help change their harmful behaviour.

• Email: ashdown@nspcc.org.uk (opens new window)
• Tel: 01980 846 164
• NSPCC Calne Family Centre
• Tel: 01249 813 270

• Relate Mid Wiltshire, 2 Prospect Place, Trowbridge. BA14 8QA
• Web: Relate: find your Relate centre (opens new window)
• Tel: 0300 003 1781
• Email: appointments.midwilts@relate.org.uk (opens new window)

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).

• Web: Relate (opens new window)
• Tel: 01302 380900
• Email: enquiries@relatedorset.org.uk (opens new window)

Web: Swindon Sanctuary (opens new window) - please contact via the website

• Web: Victim Support (opens new window) 
• Tel: 0808 281 0113.
• Support line: 08 08 16 89 111

• Web: Wiltshire Police (opens new window)
• Tel: 101

• Web: Action on elder abuse (opens new window)
• Tel: 0808 808 8141

• Web: Barnardos (opens new window) 
• Tel: 020 8550 8822

• Web: Broken Rainbow (opens new window)
• Tel: 0300 999 5428

• Web: Men's advice line (opens new window)
• Tel: 0808 801 0327

• National Domestic Abuse 24hr Helpline (Women’s Aid) (opens new window) 
• Web: Women’s Aid (opens new window)
• Tel: 0808 2000 247

• Web: National Centre for Domestic Violence (opens new window)
• Tel: 0207 186 8270
• Tel: 0800 970 2070  (Press Option 1)

For help text 'NCDV' to 60777

• available to everybody
• free legal advice Injunctions within 24 hours
• completely confidential Legal aid available

• Web: Victim Support (opens new window)
• Tel: 08 08 16 89 111

• Web: NSPCC (opens new window)
• Tel: 0808 800 5000 

• Web: Refuge (opens new window)
• Tel: 0808 200 0247 (Helpline, 24-hours)

• Web: Respect Phoneline (opens new window)
• Tel: 0808 802 4040
• Male advice line 0808 801 0327
• Web: Men's advice line (opens new window)

• Web: Samaritans (opens new window)
• Tel: 116 123