What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common.

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Coercive Control (an act or pattern of intimidation, degradation, humiliation, isolation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish or frighten).
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse.
• Physical or sexual abuse.
• Financial abuse.
• Harassment and Stalking.
• Online or digital abuse.

Domestic abuse also includes different forms of family violence such as, adolescent to parent abuse, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and so called “honour crimes” that are perpetrated primarily by family members, often with multiple perpetrators.

Anyone can experience domestic abuse regardless of gender, age, race, ethnic or religious group, sexuality, class, or disability.