Domestic abuse: how to get help during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Find out how to get help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse.
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Translated guidance
If English is not your first language,language informationyou hasmay beenfind our translated intoguidance severalor languages as well as an easy read version. useful. Women’s Aid also have guidance documents on domestic abuse and coronavirus available in a number of languages for victims, family and friends, and community members of those affected.
RecogniseCoronavirus (COVID-19) and domestic abuse
DoesThe yourgovernment partner,acknowledges ex-partnerthat coronavirus household isolation instructions can cause anxiety for those who are experiencing or someonefeel at risk of domestic abuse. There is never an excuse for domestic abuse, no matter what the circumstances are.
Household isolation instructions as a result of coronavirus do not apply if you liveneed with:to leave your home to escape domestic abuse.
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Recognise domestic abuse
Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.
What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is not always physical violence. It can also include:
- coercive control and ‘gaslighting’
- economic abuse
- online abuse
- threats and intimidation
- emotional abuse
- sexual abuse
Anyone
What cansigns beto alook victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.for
If you believe that you areor someone else could be a victim of domestic abuse, there are signs that you can look out for including:
- being withdrawn, or being isolated from your family and friends
- having bruises, burns or bite marks on you
- having your finances controlled, or not being given enough to buy food,
foodmedication or pay bills - not being allowed to leave your
thehouse, or stopped from going to college or work - having your internet or social media use monitored, or someone else reading your texts, emails or letters
- being repeatedly belittled, put down or told you are worthless
- being pressured into sex or sexual contact
- being told that abuse is your fault, or that you’re overreacting
GetSupport helpa andfriend if they’re being abused
Let them know you’ve noticed something is wrong.
If someone confides in you, there is more information on how to support a friend who is being abused.
If you are worried that someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, you can call Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free, confidential support, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247. Visit the helpline website to access information on how to support a friend.
If you believe there is an immediate risk of harm to someone, or it is an emergency, always call 999.
Report it
AllIf formsyou, or someone you know, is a victim of domestic abuse arefind notout acceptablehow to report domestic abuse.
If you are in anyimmediate situation.danger, call 999 and ask for the police.
If you’reyou experiencingare domesticin abusedanger and feelunable frightenedto of,talk on the phone, call 999 and listen to the questions from the operator and, if you can, respond by coughing or controlledtapping by,on the handset.
Call 999 from a partner,mobile
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Call 999 from a landline
If the operator can only hear background noise and therecannot decide whether an emergency service is noneeded, shameyou inwill seekingbe help.connected to a police call handler.
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When 999 calls are made from landlines, information about your location should be automatically available andto #YouAreNotthe Alone.call handlers to help provide a response.
If you are deaf or can’t verbally communicate
Free,You confidentialcan supportregister andwith advicethe isemergencySMS availableservice. Text REGISTER to victims999. andYou theirwill concernedget familya memberstext which tells you what to do next. Do this when it is safe so you can text when you are in danger.
Get help if you, or friends,someone 24you hoursknow, is a day.victim
We publish a list of the main organisations you can speak to for support. Women’s Aid also has a list of useful links for websites and organisations providing relevant information and support.
| Nation |
Helpline | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| England | ||
| Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline |
Online Web |
|
| Northern Ireland | Domestic |
Online |
help@dsahelpline.org | ||
| Scotland | Domestic | |
| 0800 Online | ||
helpline@sdafmh.org.uk |
||
| Wales | Live | |
Online | ||
Text info@livefearfreehelpline.wales |
||
| UK-wide | The | |
info@mensadviceline.org.uk |
||
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Telephone: 0808 802 4040
Support for employers and professionals
If you are an employer
Letemployer, let your employees know that if they are facing domestic abuse you want to help them to get help. Stay in regular contact with employees you know, or fear, may be facing abuse and if you lose contact with them, take swift action to visit them. If you believe there is an immediate risk of harm to someone, or it is an emergency, always call 999.
Encourage employees to look out for others who may be facing domestic abuse and signpost them to support. Your staff may also be worried about their own abusive behaviour at this time. There is no excuse for domestic abuse, no matter what stresses you are under and support is available.
Hestia’s RespondEveryone’s toBusiness Abuse Advice Line is a free resource for employers. Employers can call 020call 38790203 36958793695 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or email adviceline.eb@hestia.orgAdviceline.EB@hestia.org for support, guidance or information aboutregarding domestic abuse and how to support employees and colleagues experiencingenduring domestic abuse.abuse in the workplace.
The The Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse website website provides resources to support employers including an an employers’ toolkit.
If you are a professional working in the domestic abuse sector
SafeLives provides provides guidance and support to professionals and those working in the domestic abuse sector, as well as additional advice for those at risk.
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More support materials
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The Survivor’s Handbook, created by Women’s Aid, provides information on housing, money, helping your children and your legal rights.
Last updated 28
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Guidance restructured and reordered to improve layout. Some information moved to a new page about sources of support for specific situations.
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Updated with Men's Advice Helpline details.
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Added a new section on the Ask for ANI codeword scheme. New information on Safe Spaces and Hestia's Everyone's Business Advice Line.
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Added link to easy read version.
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Added more information about help for children and young people.
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Welsh translation added.
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Added more specific information about how to get help during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
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Information about additional support organisations added to the page.
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Support contact points added for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who cannot communicate verbally.
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Updates to the list of support services available.
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Added a link to the factsheet 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for victims of domestic abuse'.
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First published.
Update history
2025-04-29 14:35
Added North Wales to the list of places you can apply for a Domestic Abuse Protection Order.
2025-03-21 16:25
Updated information about areas where you can apply for a domestic abuse protection order.
2025-03-05 11:10
Added Cleveland to the list of locations for applying for a domestic abuse protection order.
2025-01-02 16:36
Added information about applying for domestic abuse protection orders.
2024-12-13 15:12
Added information about Domestic Abuse Protection Orders.
2024-11-04 00:02
Information about ‘Live Fear Free’ service in Wales updated.
2024-10-18 11:09
From 4 November 2024, the Ask for ANI scheme will no longer be available in pharmacies. The guidance has been updated to remove references to the Ask for ANI scheme.
2023-02-17 17:26
Updates made to ‘Ask for ANI codeword’ and ‘Safe Spaces’ sections.
2021-11-11 14:45
Added a link to an easy read version of the guidance.
2021-10-28 17:02
Added translations of the page in Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Persian, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu and Welsh.
2021-05-28 16:21
Guidance restructured and reordered to improve layout. Some information moved to a new page about sources of support for specific situations.
2021-02-12 13:26
Updated with Men's Advice Helpline details.