What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse can include:
• Physical violence for example, punches, kicks, bites scratches, pushing & strangulation
• Psychological & emotional abuse for example name-calling, put downs, mind games, isolation from friends & family
• Sexual abuse for example rape, forced activities with others, images and video taken
• Financial abuse for example withholding money, taking wages away, not allowing access to benefits
Domestic Abuse is when these types of incidents happen between two adults who are, or have been in an intimate relationship. It can also be between adult family members. Family can be related directly or be in laws or step family. Family members are seen as Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, Sister, Brother and Grandparents.
If you need more information about Domestic Abuse, download the information leaflets or contact the support services listed
Who should I contact? |
| IN AN EMERGENCY DIAL 999 |
| Shropshire Domestic Abuse 24hr helpline (Free to call from a landline) 0800 783 1359 |
| Telford’s Women Refuge (Office Hours 9am - 5pm) 01952 381921 Out of Hours (Emergency only 01743 277045 |
| Police Domestic Abuse Unit 08457 444 888 |
| Mankind (support for men experiencing abuse) 0870 794 4124 |
| Broken Rainbow (advice for gay men & women, bi-sexual & transgender people) 0845 2604460 |
| AWAAZ Support for Asian Women 01902 571260 |
| Independent Domestic Violence Advocate 01952 382110 |
| Refuge 24 hr Helpline 0808 2000 247 |
| Samaritans 01952 256161 |
| Elder Abuse 080 8808 8141 |
| Victim Support 01743 362812 |
| Citizens Advice Bureau 0845 146 1554 |
| Child line 0800 1111 |
| IMPACT Alcohol advisory Service 01952 223165 |
| Mental Health Helpline 0800 1951700 |
| SSAFA (Support for Forces Families) 0800 7314880 |
What’s being done in my area?
There are a range of activities taking place to tackle Domestic Abuse within Telford & Wrekin:
- A Specialist Domestic Violence Court was launched in October 2007. The court, which sits on a fortnightly basis, deals only with cases of Domestic Abuse. The aim of the specialist court is to provide victims with a range of facilities to ensure that they feel safe and supported during both the court hearings and also after the case. Magistrates for the court have also received specialist training. As of October 2008 133 cases of Domestic Abuse have been successfully prosecuted through the court.
- West Mercia Constabulary has created a team of investigators to improve detection rates for violent crime offences. Domestic abuse detections are one area of violent crime that it is hoped will benefit from the work this team is involved in. The police have also adopted the use of digital head cameras, which are worn by officers attending the scenes of Domestic Abuse.
- The Safer & Stronger Communities Partnership has appointed a Domestic Violence Coordinator and an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, whose roles are to coordinate work on, and to support victims of, Domestic Abuse.
More Information
Click here to open or download our Directory of Services for Victims and Survivors of Domestic Abuse. This pack has been produced to help give you information about the range of agencies that may be able to help you.
To find out more click on the video below
