Domestic abuse at Christmas

Unfortunately, many people will be trapped with abusive partners fearing for their futures. Two women are killed every week by a partner (or ex-partner) in England and Wales alone. 1 in 7 children will be impacted by domestic abuse and live in a home where their safety is not guaranteed. Domestic abuse is not exclusive to romantic relationships, it can occur between parents and children, carers and siblings.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence.

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

• Coercive control
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Financial or economic abuse
• Harassment and stalking
• Online or digital abuse

During the Christmas period, reports of domestic abuse increase and the abuser may use Christmas to justify their behaviour, but it is wrong and does not need to tolerated or accepted.

If you are in danger, please call 999 immediately.

If you cannot speak freely listen to the questions from the operator and respond by coughing of tapping on the phone if you can. If you cannot do this, press 55 and the operator will know the call is genuine and will put you through to the police.

Survivors can also contact neighbourhood@wandle.com for support.