What is domestic violence?
The definition of Domestic Violence in the Home Office report.
Domestic Violence, A National Report” (March 2005) is as follows:
Domestic Violence is:
Any incident of threatening behaviour,
violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or
emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or
family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. This
includes issues of concern to black and minority ethnic (BME)
communities such as so called ‘honour based violence’ female
genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.
An adult is defined as any person aged 18
years or over. Family members are defined as mother, father,
son, daughter, brother, sister, and grandparents, whether directly
related, in laws or step family.
National Statistics
2 women are killed by their present or
former partner in the UK each week
1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will become
victims
Nearly 750,00 children a year witness
domestic violence / abuse
Repeat victimisation accounts for 66% of
domestic violence incidents
Forms of Domestic Violence
May include:
Physical
Pushing, punching, slapping, restraining,
shaking, kicking, attacking while pregnant, serious assault,
murder.
Emotional &
Psychological
Name calling, shouting, mind games,
critiscising, acting like Jekyll and Hyde, isolating you from
family and friends.
Financial
Stealing money, running up debts in the
victimns name, not sharing money, withholding money, making you beg
for money.
Sexual
Demanding sex, pornographic acts, degrading
sexual statements, sexual insults, rape.
