About domestic abuse
Domestic abuse is any incident or pattern of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse. It may take many forms including, psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional. Domestic abuse happens in all communities, regardless of gender, age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity.
Emotional/Psychological abuse
Is sometimes called psychological abuse and involves the emotional mistreatment of a person. Examples of this are humiliation and constant criticism, threatening, shouting, name calling, making a person feel small and manipulation.
Physical abuse
Involves deliberately hurting or injuring a person, i.e., by hitting, punching, biting, throwing things, pulling hair and holding a person down.
Sexual abuse
Sexual behaviour or a sexual act that is forced upon a person without their consent or by taking advantage of the person.
Financial abuse
Is also known as economic abuse and includes controlling a person’s money and finances, taking out loans or credit cards in their name without consent, stopping them from working or keeping the money they earn.
Coercive/controlling behaviour
An abuser may not be physically violent, but use threats of violence, intimidation and manipulation to make a person feel controlled, fearful, exploited and isolated from support.
Verbal abuse
Verbal abuse is the use of harsh or insulting language directed at a person. You might be called names or constantly put down by your partner.
Domestic abuse also includes female genital mutilation, forced marriage and honour-based abuse.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
All procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Forced Marriage
When a marriage in which one or both spouses do not consent to the marriage and duress is involved. Duress can include physical, psychological, financial, sexual and emotional pressure.
So called ‘Honour’ crimes or honour based abuse
So called honour crimes or honour-based abuse is when a crime or incident has been committed ostensibly to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or community. This can involve emotional abuse, physical abuse, family disownment and in some cases, murder. In most cases there are multiple perpetrators from the immediate family, sometimes the extended family and occasionally the community at large.
Further information
Read about the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 on the GOV.UK website