What is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse is an umbrella term which incorporates several different elements such as physical violence, psychological abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse; cyber-stalking and digital abuse also now fall into this term.

The official definition from the Government about domestic violence and abuse is:

                   any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to:

• psychological

• physical

• sexual

• financial

• emotional

Source: Gov.uk, 2013

It is important to recognise that domestic abuse affects all kinds of people; victimisation involves both females and males, and can be present in both heterosexual relationships and same sex relationships.