Welcome to the Domestic Abuse web site.

WHAT IS DOMESTIC ABUSE?

Domestic abuse is usually a father or stepfather abusing a mother or stepmother. It may be a new male partner or an ex-partner, who is still harassing the family. It can sometimes be a brother or sister, or may be the woman abusing the man.

EMOTIONAL / MENTAL

Name calling, screaming, shouting, insulting or being told you are worthless, ugly, fat, useless, being told it's your fault, blackmailing, withholding affection, not allowed to socialise or see family, made to feel worthless, trashing the house, unreasonable behaviour when friends come round, spending all the household money, spitting, being kept on edge all the time. Made to do tasks / chores in a certain way or order.

PHYSICAL

Hitting, pushing, biting, kicking, hair or limb pulling, shaking, strangling, beating, stabbing, shooting, attempted drowning, burning, poking, pinching, pinning down, or guns, attempted hanging, use of suffocating, denying sleep…

THREATS

Threats to take children away, to commit suicide, threats to hurt or kill members of the family, threats to hurt pets. Living in fear of their moods. Hearing them say 'I'll always find you'. Threats to use weapons.

SEXUAL ABUSE

Rape, pornography, inappropriate touching… There have been many cases in homes where domestic violence happens, where children have been sexually abused. Between 40% - 70 % of domestic abuse cases show that children have been sexually abused. If you are being touched, or forced to touch someone else or someone is showing himself or herself to you or anything else that feels wrong, then trust your instincts.

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