Domestic abuse
Making sure you feel safe in your own home is really important to us. If you’re experiencing domestic abuse or you’re worried about friends, family or neighbours, we’re here to help.
Are you in immediate danger?
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger phone the police on 999. If you’re not able to speak, press 55 at any time and you’ll be automatically transferred to the police.
What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is a traumatic crime that can happen to anyone. We want you to know if you’re experiencing abuse, it’s not your fault and you’re not alone.
We take reports of domestic abuse extremely seriously and we’ll help you get the support you need.
Domestic abuse happens most often between people aged 16 or over. In most cases the abuser is a partner or ex-partner, but they might be a family member or a carer. Children are also affected by domestic abuse, both as victims and witnesses.
Domestic abuse comes in all different shapes and sizes. It’s any kind of behaviour that’s used to harm, punish, frighten, degrade or control someone. The most common types are physical or sexual abuse and threatening or violent behaviour.
How can we help?
Remember we are here to help!
We’re committed to working with you so you can stay in your own home and feel safe. But it’s all about you deciding what’s right for you. We’ll never force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. We’re here to give you support and advice but you’re in the driving seat.
There’s lots of different ways we can help, including
- Linking you up with the right people, experts in working with victims of domestic abuse, who can give you specialist support
- Putting together safety plans to help you stay safe
- Working with local councils, charities and voluntary organisations to get you the help you need
To talk to us about domestic abuse call 0131 444 1200 or visit one of our office locations that can be found on our contact us page.
We can support you to find the help you want.
Are you in immediate danger & need help now? If you or someone you know is in immediate danger phone the police on 999. If you’re not able to speak, press 55 at any time and you’ll be automatically transferred to the police.
Types of abuse
- Stopping you from going out, taking your car keys away
- Not letting you meet up with friends
- Keeping tabs on where you’re going all the time
- Telling you what time you’ve got to be home.
- Keeping you away from your family and friends
- Stopping you from coming and going when you want to
- Cutting off any childcare or help you get from outside your home.
This can be any violent or threatening physical contact including:
- hitting, kicking or punching
- Spitting
- Breaking bones or causing bruises
- Driving dangerously when you’re a passenger in the car
- Grabbing, burning and stabbing.
- Rape and any sexual acts you haven’t agreed to
- Taking away your birth control
- Forcing you into sex work
- Revenge porn (where private sexual pictures or videos are shared without your permission).
- Saying nasty things about your appearance
- Making you feel stupid and that your views and opinions don’t matter
- Gaslighting (someone always disagreeing with you or refusing to listen to your point of view to make you unsure about your own ideas and thoughts).
- Name calling
- Speaking in a threatening way
- Using language that’s threatening, humiliating, intimidating and frightening.
- Not letting you use your bank account
- Hiding your purse or wallet
- Stopping you from working and earning your own money
- Spending your money without permission
- Borrowing money in your name without permission
- Checking your bank statements all the time to see where you’ve been and what you’ve been buying.
- Following you to your work, your home or when you’re out and about
- Waiting outside your home
- Regularly sending you unwanted texts, voicemails, emails or letters.
- Stopping you from taking part in your religion, spiritual or cultural activities
- Cutting you off from your cultural community
- Criticising your cultural beliefs and practices
- Honour-based violence
- Forced marriage
- Female genital mutilation.
- Demanding to know your passwords and watching everything you’re doing on social media
- Putting tracking devices on your phone.
Pregnancy can be a trigger for domestic abuse, or can make existing abuse worse, putting you and your baby at risk.
- Speak to your GP, midwife or other health care professionals