Domestic abuse awareness and information

Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence. In most cases this is carried out by a current or ex-partner, but in some cases it is by a family member or carer.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you can't speak and are calling on a mobile, press 55 to have your call transferred to the police.

Local services

If you think a child or young person is at risk, you can find out more information about Children's Safeguarding referrals.

National services

Support to change abusive behaviour

Local services

National services

What domestic abuse is

Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence. In most cases this is carried out by a current or ex-partner, but in some cases it is by a family member or carer.

The definition of domestic abuse changed as part of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (legislation.gov.uk) (opens new window).

Domestic abuse can consist of any of the following:

• physical or sexual abuse
• violent or threatening behaviour
• controlling or coercive behaviour
• economic abuse
• psychological, emotional or other abuse.

Read more about the different types of domestic abuse and how to recognise unhealthy behaviours on Women’s Aid: I’m not sure if my relationship is healthy (opens new window).

Wiltshire Domestic Abuse Strategies

Wiltshire's Domestic Abuse Strategy

Wiltshire's current Domestic Abuse Strategy was published in February 2025, informed by the latest Domestic Abuse Health Needs Assessment. The strategy outlines a clear commitment from Wiltshire partners to embody a partnership approach, driven through the Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board (DALPB), a sub-group of the Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership, made up of representatives from Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Police, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Integrated Care Board, National Probation Service and our community and voluntary sector. The strategy incorporates a safe accommodation specific strategic priority with a number of safe accommodation specific outcomes, as per the statutory duty outlined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Working together, the DALPB will continue to do all we can to ensure that individuals who have been and continue to be affected by domestic abuse are at the heart of how we take our actions forward to combat the harms caused by domestic abuse.

Progress made against the Domestic Abuse Strategy will be formally reviewed annually and annual progress reviews will be published for accountability.

The Domestic Abuse Strategy and Domestic Abuse Health Needs Assessment is available on Wiltshire Safeguarding Vulnerable People Partnership: Domestic Abuse (opens new window).

The Wiltshire Council Public Health team carried out a survey in Spring 2024, asking people affected by domestic abuse in Wiltshire to share their experiences as well as feedback on support services. The summary report of the findings from this survey can be read on the Wiltshire Intelligence website (opens new window). The findings have been incorporated into the Domestic Abuse Health Needs Assessment and subsequent Domestic Abuse Strategy.