What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents involving controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading or violent behaviour - including physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, or economic abuse - most often carried out by a partner or ex-partner, but it can also be perpetrated by a family member or carer. It is rooted in power and control, can happen to anyone, and often involves behaviours that create fear, isolation, or distress for the person experiencing it.
What are examples of abusive behaviour?
- Physical abuse
Examples include hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, biting, burning, strangling, or physically assaulting someone in any way. - Emotional or psychological abuse
This can involve persistent criticism, name‑calling, humiliating someone, intimidation, isolating them from friends or family, gaslighting, or making them feel afraid or worthless. - Coercive control
Examples include monitoring someone's movements or communications, controlling what they wear, who they see, or where they go, isolating them from support networks, or using threats, manipulation, or fear to control their behaviour. - Financial or economic abuse
This includes controlling access to money, taking someone's income, preventing them from working, forcing them to take out loans, or restricting access to essentials such as food, transport, or medication. - Sexual abuse
Examples include any non‑consensual sexual activity, pressuring or forcing someone into sexual acts, removing a condom without consent ("stealthing"), forcing involvement in pornography or prostitution, or continuing sexual activity when someone is unable to consent. - Digital/online abuse
This may include accessing someone's phone or social media without permission, tracking their location, monitoring online activity, sending threatening messages, or restricting their ability to use devices or the internet. - Harassment or stalking
Examples include following someone, repeatedly contacting them, turning up uninvited, checking up on them excessively, or other behaviour that causes fear or distress.
Is my relationship healthy?
Unhealthy behaviour in a relationship can be recognised when your partner's actions leave you feeling unsafe, controlled, blamed, or afraid. Common warning signs include changing your behaviour out of fear of how your partner will react, feeling isolated from friends or family, being monitored - such as having your phone or social media checked without permission - or being pressured, criticised, or made to feel worthless. If something consistently "doesn’t feel right," or you notice patterns of jealousy, control, intimidation, or excuses for hurtful behaviour, these may be red flags that the relationship is becoming unhealthy or abusive.