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This information applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
What is domestic violence
Domestic violence covers a range of situations where one person in some way harms another person, with whom they have some pre-existing relationship.
Domestic violence can therefore be one person physically attacking another or it may be another form of abuse such as pestering with phone calls, installing a lover in the family home, or putting superglue in the locks of the victim’s car doors.
For the above actions to be counted as domestic violence, the victim and the perpetrator must have had some form of relationship, but they do not need to be heterosexual partners and they need not live in the same property.
Domestic violence can include elder abuse. This is where harm is done, or distress caused, to an older person within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust. It can happen within the home or within a care setting or hospital.
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Options available to people affected by violence
If you are the victim of a violent relationship, get immediate practical advice on the options available, which may be to:-
- attempt to stop the violence and stay with the perpetrator of the violence
- leave home temporarily
- leave home permanently
- stay in the present home and get the perpetrator of the violence to leave
- take legal action.
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Finding somewhere safe to stay
If you are a victim of a violent relationship you may need somewhere safe to stay, either alone or with your children. The options are:-
- stay at home if you think this is safe
- stay with relatives or friends
- stay in a women’s refuge. This is only an option for women (with or without children)
- get emergency accommodation from the local authority under homeless persons law - this will usually mean a bed and breakfast hostel
- get privately rented accommodation.
Women’s Aid Refuges
Women’s Aid Refuges are safe houses run by and for women suffering domestic violence. Refuges provide somewhere safe for women and their children to stay and allow some time and space for the woman to think about what to do next.
Staff at refuges are specialised in dealing with domestic violence, and so can give a lot of emotional and practical support, for example, advice on benefit claims, which solicitors to use and, if necessary, how to contact the police.
To find out your nearest refuge with spaces available, you should contact the National Domestic Violence helpline, (see under heading Futher help). Helpline staff will do their best to find you somewhere safe to stay that night even if the local refuge is full. They are also happy to talk to women about any questions they have about refuges.
Going to the local authority, or housing executive in Northern Ireland
Your local authority may have a duty to provide you with housing if you are homeless. You will normally be considered to be legally homeless if it is not reasonable for you to occupy your home because of the risk or fear of domestic violence.
Local authorities, or housing executive in Northern Ireland, should deal sympathetically with applications from people who are in fear of violence. You can ask for a private interview, with someone of the same sex, and can take a friend with you for support.
The local authority (housing executive in Northern Ireland) may have a duty to provide interim accommodation for you while it decides whether you are legally homeless.
For more information about homelessness and the local authority, see Finding Accommodation.
Going to privately rented accommodation
If you decide to go into privately rented accommodation you will be unlikely to be able to arrange it quickly. This is really only an option for people who have time to plan their departure and can afford this accommodation.
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Longer term solutions
Once you have found a safe place to stay short-term, you will need to think about what to do in the longer term. You will need to consider:-
- whether you wish to permanently separate from your partner. You should seek legal advice (see under heading Legal remedies and procedures)
- whether you want to take action to keep the violent partner away from you. You should seek legal advice (see under heading Legal remedies and procedures)
- housing. Your legal rights to the family home will depend upon the type of housing you leaving, the legal status of your relationship and whether or not you have children. You should get legal advice to ensure that you do everything possible to protect rights to the family home. You should seek advice about the family home even if you are leaving permanently because, if your partner sells the home, you may lose money and possessions
- children. If you have children you will need to decide if you are taking the children with you. It may be unsafe to leave them behind. You may need to use the courts to resolve who the children should live with and with whom they should have contact. You should seek legal advice (see under heading Legal remedies and procedures)
- money. You will need to sort out your benefit entitlement and tax arrangements and whether or not to apply to court for maintenance for yourself. You may also want to apply to the Child Support Agency for a maintenance assessment for your children. If you claim certain benefits, you will automatically be contacted by the Child Support Agency, and you should keep in mind that claiming maintenance from a violent partner could be distressing or threatening. However, you may be able to opt out if there is a risk to you or a child living with you.
If you need further information and advice you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, a solicitor, law centre or Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.
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Legal remedies and procedures
Going to a solicitor
If you want to discuss legal protection for yourself and your children, consult a solicitor who is experienced in matrimonial work. Local Women’s Aid groups, the police, rape crisis groups, or women’s centres usually know of local solicitors who are both experienced and sympathetic.
A local advice agency such, as a law centre or Citizens Advice Bureau, should be able to help you find a local solicitor who is experienced in this area of the law. In England and Wales, you can also look on the Community Legal Advice website at: www.communityleagaladvice.org.uk. In Scotland, go to the website of the Scottish Legal Aid Board at: www.slab.org.uk, and in Northern Ireland, go to the website of the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission at: www.nilsc.org.uk.
You should make an appointment as soon as you feel ready, and could take someone with you for support the first time you go to the solicitor. The initial interview will probably last quite a long time, during which the solicitor should discuss with you what courses of legal action are open to you and whether you are entitled to legal aid.
If you take legal action to protect yourself or your family from domestic violence, you may qualify for legal aid without having to meet the normal financial conditions.
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Perpetrators of violence
There are several specialist organisations which can help violent people who want to stop being violent. Some are self help groups run by others who have had experience of violent behaviour, others may be run by trained counsellors. It may also be possible for you to get help through your GP.
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Further help
National Domestic Violence Helpline
A national 24 hour helpline provides access to advice and support to women experiencing domestic violence. The freephone helpline number is 0808 200 0247. The helpline is provided jointly by Women's Aid and Refuge.
Women’s Aid
PO Box 391
Bristol
BS99 7WS
Helpline: 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)
Tel (admin): 0117 944 4411
Fax: 0117 924 1703
E-mail: info@womensaid.org.uk
Website: www.womensaid.org.uk
The national helpline offers advice and support to women experiencing domestic violence. Women's Aid can also give details of refuges and the availability of refuge places throughout the UK. Its website provides links to specialist organisations that offer services to women from different minority ethnic communities and cultures.
Scottish Women’s Aid
2nd Floor
132 Rose Street
Edinburgh
EH2 3JD
Helpline: 0800 027 1234
Tel (admin): 0131 226 6606
Fax: 0131 226 2996
Website: www.scottishwomensaid.co.uk
Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline
Tel: 0800 027 1234
Website: www.domesticabuse.co.uk
This 24 hour domestic abuse helpline can provide housing, legal and benefits advice for all parts of Scotland. It also provides an opportunity to discuss your problems in confidence.
Welsh Women’s Aid
Cardiff National Office
38-48 Crwys Road
Cardiff
CF24 4NN
Freephone domestic abuse helpline: 0808 801 0800 (open 24 hours)
Tel: 09 2039 0874
Fax: 029 2039 0878
E-mail: KirstiePavey@welshwoensaid.org.uk
Website: www.welshwomensaid.org
Women's Aid Federation (Northern Ireland)
129 University Street
Belfast
BT7 1HP
24 hour Domestic Violence Helpline: 0800 917 1414
Tel (admin): 028 9024 9041
Website: www.niwaf.org
General email: info@niwaf.org
National Centre for Domestic Violence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) offers a free service to help you get a court order to protect yourself if you're experiencing domestic violence. If you are eligible for legal aid, you will be helped by a qualified solicitor or referred to one near where you live. If you can't get legal aid, you will have to pay your own costs but you can be helped with paperwork. Depending on where you live, they may be able to support you at court.
Advisers from NCDV are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Their contact details are:
National Centre for Domestic Violence
Suite 129
456 – 458 Strand
London
WC2R ODZ
Tel: 0800 970 2070
E-mail: office@ncdv.org.uk
Website: www.ncdv.org.uk
Refuge
2/8 Maltravers Street
London
WC2R 3EE
Tel: Helpline: 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)
Tel: Admin: 020 7395 7700
E-mail: info@refuge.org.uk
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
The national helpline offers advice and support to anyone experiencing domestic violence. Refuge provides safe, emergency accommodation through a network of refuges throughout the UK. It also provides culturally-specific services for women from different minority ethnic communities and cultures. Its website has links to specialist organisations, including specialist organisations for refugees.
Rights of Women
52 – 54 Featherstone Street
London
EC1Y 8RT
Legal advice line: 020 7251 6577
Sexual violence advice line: 0207 251 8887
Administration: 020 7251 6575/6
Fax: 020 7490 5377
E-mail: info@row.org.uk
Website: www.rightsofwomen.org.uk
Rights of Women is a voluntary organisation that runs a legal advice telephone line, offering confidential legal advice on domestic violence. They also run a sexual violence legal advice line. Rights of Women produce free information sheets which can be downloaded from their website.
Police domestic violence units
There are a number of police domestic violence units, which have staff specially trained to help people experiencing domestic violence. They work closely with other organisations such as local solicitors and Women’s Aid groups. Your local police station, in the phone book under Police, will be able to tell you if they have a domestic violence unit, or where the nearest one is.
Action on Elder Abuse
Action on Elder Abuse gives confidential advice and information to older people who are suffering from violence or abuse. A relative or friend of the person being abused can also contact the helpline on behalf of the older person. The helpline can be used in the case of older people who live at home, in a care home or who are in hospital.
Action on Elder Abuse
Astral House
1268 London Road
London
SW16 4ER
Tel: 020 8765 7000
Helpline: 0808 808 8141
Fax: 020 8679 4074
E-mail: enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk
Website: www.elderabuse.org.uk
Commissioner for Older People in Wales
The role of the Commissioner for Older People in Wales is to make sure that the interests of older people in Wales are safeguarded. The Commissioner can specifically look at the way that a local authority or health body deals with elder abuse and can take individual cases if the case raises issues that have a wider impact on older people. The Commissioner's contact details are:
Commissioner for Older People in Wales
Cardiff Executive Centre
Temple Court
13 Cathedral Road
Cardiff
CF11 9HA
Tel: 029 2078 6579
Fax: 029 2078 6580
E-mail: ask@olderpeoplewales.com
Website: www.olderpeoplewales.com
Survivors UK Ltd
12A Evelyn Court
Grinstead Road
London
SE8 5AD
Tel: 0845 122 1201 (Helpline: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 7pm –10pm)
E-mail: info@survivorsuk.org
Website: www.survivorsuk.org
This is a national helpline for men who have been victims of violence, sexual assault and rape. The helpline may be able to arrange counselling or a support group if you live in the London area. If you live outside London, Survivors UK may be able to provide details of an appropriate service outside the London area.
Everyman Project
1A Waterloo Road
London
N19 5NJ
Tel: 020 7263 8884 (Helpline: Tuesday and Wednesday, 6.30pm - 9pm)
E-mail: everymanproject@btopenworld.com
Website: www.everymanproject.co.uk
The Everyman Project offers counselling to men in the London area who want to change their violent or abusive behaviour. It also has a national helpline which offers advice to anyone worried about their own, or someone else's, violent or abusive behaviour.
As well as using their helpline number above, you can phone them during their office opening hours. These are Mondays 10am to 2pm, Wednesdays from 10 am to 5pm and Fridays from 1pm to 5pm.
M-Power
14 Thorpe Road
Norwich
NR1 1RY
Tel: 0808 808 4321 (Thursday evenings only, 8pm - 10pm)
E-mail: support@male-rape.org.uk
Website: www.male-rape.org.uk
A national helpline for men who have who have been raped, assaulted or abused in childhood or adult life. The helpline also supports partners (male and female) and family members of abused men.
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