Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviour on the part of an abuser designed to control their partner. It can happen at any point in a relationship, including after you have split up.  Anyone forced to change their behaviour because they are frightened of their partner or ex-partner’s reaction is experiencing abuse.

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, gender, religion, sexuality, HIV status, class, location or ethnicity. However, statistics sadly show most domestic abuse is carried out by men and experienced by women. Domestic abuse can also include forced marriage and so-called ‘honour crimes’.

Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents involving controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence. If you want to know about other services that we offer, please read our website.  If you are in immediate danger, please call 999 today.

You might think that it would be quite easy to spot if a person is the victim of domestic abuse but, in reality, this can be quite difficult to do.  Studies have shown that controlling and abusive partners can be skilled and making sure the signs of the harm that they cause are secret and hidden.  Still this does not mean that the signs are invisible.

All relationships are unique, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to say what is a normal relationship.  However, there are healthy relationships and unhealthy relationships. It helps to be able to recognise the negative signs in both your own relationships and those near to you who may be experiencing issues. Remember, if you ever feel unsafe or you are concerned about somebody else’s safety then take action today.

Remember, domestic abuse is never the fault of the person who is experiencing it.  “Domestic abuse is a crime”. Spotting the signs is critically important.   If you feel you are seeing the signs, then reach out to us for support today.

• Do they control your money?
• Is your partner jealous and possessive?
• Are they charming one minute and abusive the next?
• Do they tell you what to wear, where to go, who to see?
• Do they pressure you to have sex when you don’t want to?
• Are you starting to walk on eggshells to avoid making them angry?
• Do they monitor or track your movements or messages?
• Do they use anger and intimidation to frighten and control you?
• Do they constantly put you down?
• Do they play mind games and make you doubt your judgement?

How we can support you
If you need support you can call our helpline today 0808 802 0028. The helpline is open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and is free from all mobiles, landlines and payphones. It is also hidden on the telephone bill so if you are in the Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland area please contact us today so we can help you today.

Here at Freeva we work closely with other agencies to ensure the right support is in place for you. Freeva are part of the United Against Violence & Abuse (UAVA) consortium – www.uava.org.uk and some of our services are jointly delivered with Living without Abuse (LWA) and Women’s Aid Leicestershire Limited (WALL).

There are a lot of myths and false information around domestic abuse and its causes. Victim-blaming is common, and women are unfortunately being frequently deterred from coming forward for fear of being blamed for the abuse. We work with a range of programs to help you get the support you need today.

Find out how to get help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area today.