Crime reduction 

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is a crime.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) (opens new window) define domestic abuse as: 'Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional), between adults, aged 18 or over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender and sexuality.'

'Family members' are defined as mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister and grandparents, whether directly related, in-laws or step-family. An 'adult' is defined as aged 18 and over. A 'child' is defined as under the age of 18.

Domestic abuse...

• Is a crime in which the domestic abuser seeks power over their victim. It is not normally a one-off incident, but a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour.
• Affects women, men and children.
• Is experienced by one in four women and one in six men during their lifetime.
• Is mainly abuse by men against women, according to police figures.
• Can happen regardless of the gender, sexuality, disability, age, race, social group, wealth, class or lifestyle of the people involved.

Examples of domestic abuse

• Forced marriage.
• Violence, including ‘honour-based’ violence.
• Sexual abuse.
• Threats to you, your family, your pets or your possessions.
• Being forced to do things (being pressured).
• Being frightened to say 'no'.
• Being frightened to say what you think.
• Feeling that you are 'walking on eggshells' all the time.
• Being watched and checked up on.
• Having your freedom unreasonably restricted.
• Being stopped from seeing your family and friends.
• Being made to feel small.
• Being made to feel too tired, too depressed, and too frightened to fight back or leave.
• Destructive criticism.
• Disrespect and breaking trust.
• Isolation.
• Harassment.