Domestic abuse - You are not powerless

If you suspect someone is a victim of domestic abuse, speak up anonymously on 0800 555 111, or fill in our online form

Not all abuse is physical

Two women are killed each week by a current or former partner. It’s estimated that a typical victim of domestic abuse endures up to 35 assaults before speaking up.  ​

#YouAreNotPowerless

You have the power to help stop domestic abuse. If you suspect domestic abuse and don't want to reveal your identity, tell us what you know. 

Adults and children can all be victims of domestic abuse.

Domestic abuse is the misuse of power and control over one person by another. It can take many different forms, including:

• Emotional
• Psychological
• Sexual
• Financial
• Physical
• Verbal
• Controlling or coercive behaviour

What is meant by 'controlling or coercive behaviour'?

#YouAreNotPowerless

Everyone has the power to do the right thing, change their abusive behaviour or make the call. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. If you don’t want to reveal your identity, call us on 0800 555 111 or complete our anonymous online form.

Adults, no matter what their gender or sexual orientation, can also be perpetrators of abuse. It is estimated 1 in 4 perpetrators will reoffend.
 

If you think your behaviour is crossing the line into abuse, call the Respect Phoneline on 0808 802 4040 to get the help you need.

If you are a female victim of domestic abuse call Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 - available 24hrs, 7 days a week.

If you are a male victim of domestic abuse call the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327

Alternatively you can call the LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428
   
Domestic abuse is rarely a one-off incident, and it is the cumulative and interlinked types of abuse that have a particularly damaging effect on the victim. If you suspect domestic abuse, tell us what you know.  

Warning signs of a victim of domestic abuse include:
 

• Their partner puts them down in front of other people
• They are constantly worried about making their partner angry
• They make excuses for their partner’s behavior
• Their partner is extremely jealous or possessive
• They have unexplained marks or injuries
• They’ve stopped spending time with friends and family
• They are depressed or anxious, or you notice changes in their personality
• Heterosexual and LGBT people may experience similar patterns of domestic abuse - there are, however, some specific issues that are unique to the experiences of LGBT people. Learn more about them here.

You may be a neighbour who may have seen or heard:
 

• Threatening and intimidating arguments, which may involve violent language or escalate to smashing up the furniture
• Arguments where the partner blames the other for their actions, saying they are “asking for it” or deserve the abuse
• Individuals with bruising or other visible marks, which may have been caused by physical abuse

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How Crimestoppers can help your business tackle crime.

We work with over 50 partners, including commercial organisations, government bodies and trade associations, to help them address their concerns on crimes affecting their business, employees and customers.

At the heart of all Crimestoppers’ activity lies our unique guarantee of anonymous reporting.
 
We support our partners with whistleblowing lines, public reporting mechanisms, running targeted campaigns, and information sharing packages to support valuable crime insights.
 
We always welcome the opportunity to discuss ways of working together on issues of concern. Find out more about our services.
 
For more information on how we can help tackle crime affecting your business, please contact Kate Johnston, Crimestoppers Head of Business Development - email Kate.

Employers - you have the power to help protect your employees

Employers have a unique role to play in ending domestic abuse. While 86% of employers agree that they have a duty of care to support employees experiencing domestic abuse, only 5% of businesses have a domestic abuse policy. We know that when employers take action to respond to domestic abuse, it saves lives.

The Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) membership comprises over 400 large and small businesses from a wide variety of sectors, working collectively to take action on domestic abuse.
 
With members as high profile and diverse as John Lewis, BBC, Boots, House
of Commons and Vodafone, its mission is to work with employers to raise awareness among all of their employees, support those facing domestic abuse, and provide access to services to help perpetrators to change their behaviour and stop. Learn more here.
 

 

Hestia’s Everyone’s Business Advice Line
 
It can be difficult to know how to respond to concerns around domestic abuse, even more so when working apart.

The new Everyone’s Business Advice Line, run by domestic abuse charity Hestia, is a free and confidential resource where employers can get advice on effectively responding to disclosures of domestic abuse by their employees, particularly in light of COVID-19, and to signpost their employees to the appropriate specialist domestic abuse support services.
 
The Everyone’s Business Advice Line is available to all employers from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday, and can be contacted on 07770 480437 or via email at Adviceline.EB@hestia.org.

Are you a victim of domestic abuse?

Due to our anonymity guarantee, we can't take information from victims of crime. In an emergency, always call 999.

If you are a female victim of domestic abuse call Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 - available 24hrs, 7 days a week. Live chat is also available Monday-Friday 3-10pm via www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk.

If you are a male victim of domestic abuse call the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327

Alternatively you can call the LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428