Domestic abuse is a crime. It is never the fault of the person who is experiencing it.
It can happen to anyone — regardless of age, background, gender identity, sex, religion, sexual orientation or ethnicity.
If you're experiencing domestic abuse, we are here to help and support you.
About domestic abuse
Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of abusive and controlling behaviour, to people over 16 years old.
Domestic abuse can affect anyone – men, women and those who identify as non-binary. It can occur in any relationship – heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, young or old.
It's often caused by a partner or ex-partner, but can also be a family member or carer. Unfortunately, it's very common.
You're being abused if you feel you have to alter your behaviour because you’re frightened of how someone will react or treat you.
Domestic abuse can include:
- controlling and coercive behaviour
- psychological and emotional abuse
- financial abuse
- violent or threatening behaviour
- sexual abuse and rape
- stalking and harassment
- online or digital abuse.
This refers to crimes that are disproportionately experienced by women and girls.
It includes domestic violence abuse, sexual offences, female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, honour-based violence/abuse, trafficking and prostitution.
If you’re in immediate danger, please call the police on 999.
Help and support
Silent Solution
If you ever need to call 999 for urgent police help but can’t speak, the Silent Solution guide gives advice on what to do to get help.
You have the right to feel safe in your home.
If you're experiencing or concerned about domestic abuse, please get in touch. We’ll investigate all reports of domestic abuse, including those made in confidence or by people not directly involved such as neighbours and contractors.
If you're experiencing domestic abuse, we’ll help and support you. We'll discuss the help and support that's available from the association and other agencies.
Please be assured, we will not leave a voicemail or discuss your case with anyone else who may answer your phone.
Get in touch on 0300 1234 009 or email housingsupport@midlandsrural.org.uk
- National Centre for Domestic Violence
- Call: 0800 970 2070
- Text and they will call you back: Text NCDV to 60777
- Email: office@ncdv.org.uk
- National LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline
- Website: www.galop.org.uk
- Call: 0800 999 5428 or 0300 999 5428
- Hourglass - Support for older people experiencing abuse
- Call: 0808 808 8141
- Website: www.wearehourglass.org
- Deafhope: domestic and sexual abuse support for deaf people
- Call: 020 3947 2600
- Text: 07970 350366
- Website: www.deaf-hope.org
- Respond Support: for people with learning disabilities who have experienced trauma and/or abuse
- Call: 0808 808 0700
- Website: respond.org.uk
- Forced Marriage Unit
- Call: 020 7008 0151
- Website: gov.uk/stop-forced-marriage
- Karma Nirvana: support for people affected by honour-based abuse and forced marriage
- Call: 0800 5999 247
- Website: karmanirvana.org.uk
- Respect
- Victim Support
- Government guidance on how to get help
- Surviving economic abuse
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
A free, 24-hour helpline run by Refuge: 0808 2000 247
Respect
Respect provides help for perpetrators, supporting them to become safe around their partner and children.
Phone: 0808 8024040
HollieGuard is a smartphone app that provides enhanced levels of protection.
It's a personal alarm, can raise an alert, capture evidence and more.