What is Domestic Abuse?

Everyone has the right to live a life free from fear and harm

What is domestic abuse?

The UK government’s definition of domestic abuse is:

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour,  violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.

This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following:

Coercive Control
Psychological and/or Emotional Abuse
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Financial or Economic Abuse
Harassment and Stalking
Tech/Online Abuse

Controlling behaviour is: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.

Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

Domestic Abuse includes 'honour’ based violence (HBV), female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage (FM).

Domestic abuse does not have any boundaries - it can happen to anyone and anybody can be an abuser, regardless of age, background, ethnicity, gender, religion or belief, and sexuality. Whilst domestic abuse occurs in all relationships, evidence shows the vast majority of domestic abuse incidents are carried out by men and experienced by women.

Whilst the government definition applies to those aged 16 or above young people under 16 can be in abusive relationships.

Safer Places recognises that survivors of domestic abuse who experience other forms of oppression and discrimination may face further barriers to disclosing abuse and accessing support.

If you are being abused, remember you are not alone.

We can help you by providing advice and support with:

Improving your safety
Emotional support
Housing and homelessness
Finances and welfare benefits
Access to legal services
Support reporting abuse if you choose to
Parenting and children
Immigration and No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

If you are in immediate danger contact the police on 999

To find out more about how we can help please see our accommodation and outreach services.

Latest

Night Domestic Abuse Practitioner

Essex (Harlow) Night Domestic Abuse Practitioner £19,393.00 p.a. Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights 8 PM to 8 AM 33 hrs/wk. – Ref: NDAP061020 Location: Harlow Closing Date: 6th October 2020 17:30
Stalking Masterclass Online 01/12/2020

At the end of this training session you will be able to: Understand the stalking legislation Understand the different types of stalking behaviours Understand the different types of perpetrator typologies, motivation and behaviours Understand the impact of stalking on their victims and their families Supporting a victim of stalking
Stalking Masterclass Online 07/10/2020

At the end of this training session you will be able to: Understand the stalking legislation Understand the different types of stalking behaviours Understand the different types of perpetrator typologies, motivation and behaviours Understand the impact of stalking on their victims and their families Supporting a victim of stalking
Refuge Domestic Abuse Practitioner - Hertfordshire (Stevenage)

Refuge Domestic Abuse Practitioner - Hertfordshire (Stevenage)

Help for Family and Friends

Domestic Abuse can happen to anyone and the chances are that you may know someone impacted by abuse – a parent, sibling, friend or colleague who is experiencing abuse or has done in the past. If you are trying to support someone, unless the person confides in you and are open about their experiences it can be difficult to address your concerns directly.
Spotting the Signs

There are many ways an abuser abuses. Abusers seek to gain power and control over another person or person. It can often start off small, with lots of different events that gradually chip away or erode confidence. Survivors have said domestic abuse makes you feel that you are losing your “sense of self” and that you can’t trust your own judgement or feel you don’t have the right to make decisions.

Live Chat Launch

Safer Places launches new Live Chat service. The new service enables anyone experiencing abuse to chat directly with a member of the Safer Places team. The measures announced to tackle coronavirus (COVID 19) have seen day to day life change dramatically and undoubtedly made it harder for people to access support services as survivors are isolated with abusers with small windows of opportunity to speak. This new service will give survivors the opportunity to access support discreetly.
Safer Places response to the Domestic Abuse Bill second reading announcement

The Domestic Abuse Bill will return to Parliament tomorrow, Tuesday 28th April. Janet Dalrymple, CEO of Safer Places said “We are pleased to see the bill progressing through parliament, especially during this particularly worrying time for survivors of abuse"
Family Life in Refuge

Hello there! My name is Lauren Taylor and I work for Safer Places as a Senior Family Domestic Abuse Practitioner (I know, what a mouthful right?). Thankfully when it comes to working with the amazing kids within the refuges I just introduce myself as someone wanting to make them feel as safe and happy as possible, that usually goes down a little better! So I was asked by one of my lovely colleagues to write a blog……and after several days of researching what a blog actually is, here I am.
Ask for J Campaign

Today Safer Places launch the ‘Ask for J’ campaign across Essex. As local businesses begin to re-open their doors to members of the community the ‘Ask for J’ campaign opens the door to support for those experiencing abuse.
Safer Places receives emergency funding to bolster refuge service provision

Safer Places receives £15,000 emergency funding from Essex Community Foundation to bolster refuge service provision
Work With Us

At Safer Places, our team are our most important resource and a real asset to us. Having a highly competent, survivor focused, experienced and resourceful team is key to delivering a high quality service. We are proud of our team and our organisational culture is really important to us. Working for Safer Places is no ordinary job. Every role in our organisation plays a part in delivering on our Mission. We work hard to create an environment that inspires and empowers staff to give their bes
Safer Places response to the second reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill

Safer Places respond to the second reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill. Rachel Millar, Senior Policy Officer for Safer Places said: “Safer Places are pleased to see the Bill progress through parliament, especially during this worrying time when urgent action is needed to protect survivors. We were particularly pleased to hear just how many MP’s spoke with passion and championed the voices of survivors’ and children whist highlighting matters of concern not currently addressed within the Bill.
Safer Places receives emergency COVID 19 funding
Running Refuges - The Risk and Impact of COVID 19

It is almost 6 months now since on March 13th I sat with my colleagues Jayne and Allison and talked about what would happen if this new virus took hold. The death toll in the UK had risen to 11 that day and there had been a surge in infections taking the total infected across the UK to almost 800. We laughed a fair bit – partly because what we were talking about seemed unthinkable and partly because we were nervous.
Domestic Abuse Bill 2020 Part 2

The Domestic Abuse Bill has now passed through the House of Commons stage and is one step closer to becoming law having been introduced to the House of Lords; this is a formality and takes place without any debate. The date for the second hearing, where the bill will be considered, has not yet been announced.