The police flagged 857,810 recorded offences as domestic abuse-related in the year ending March 2024 and receive a domestic abuse-related call every 30 seconds, yet it is estimated that less than 24% of domestic abuse crime is reported to the police.
Despite its prevalence, domestic abuse can be incredibly isolating, and it can be hard to know where to turn to for help.
At Langley Wellington LLP, we support victims of domestic violence and their families by providing sensitive and carefully considered legal advice that addresses your concerns and ensures your safety.
What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is defined as a pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, usually undertaken by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer.
In most cases, it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.
Domestic violence can take both physical and non-physical forms and can include the following:
- Coercive control. This is a pattern of behaviour that makes someone feel intimidated, scared, humiliated or threatened. Examples can include constant criticism, isolating someone from their friends or family and monitoring their behaviour.
- Physical violence. This form of abuse includes punching, kicking, hitting, choking and any other behaviour that inflicts physical harm.
- Sexual abuse. This includes harassment and unwanted sexual activity.
- Emotional abuse. This is defined as being subjected to behaviour that can be insulting or makes you feel scared.
- Verbal abuse. Verbal abuse can involve being called names by your partner.
- Economic abuse. A partner trying to control your money and finances is an example of economic abuse.
- Gaslighting. This is a form of behaviour that can lead you to question your own take on reality.
What are the signs of domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse can take various forms, but it always involves behaviour that involves having power and control over you.
Many incidents could be indicative of domestic violence, and the NHS has published on its website a list of some of the most common behaviours that could be an example of abuse.
These include a partner:
- Isolating you from your family and friends.
- Stopping you going to college or work.
- Making unreasonable demands for your attention.
- Destroying things that belong to you.
- Belittling you.
- Threatening to kill you, themselves or your children.
- Reading your emails, texts or letters.
- Slapping, hitting or punching you.
- Throwing things at you.
- Making unwanted sexual demands.
Spotting the signs of domestic abuse can be difficult and it sometimes easy to put down an incident that makes you feel uncomfortable as a one-off.
However, speaking to a solicitor who specialises in domestic abuse about any concerns at an early stage can often stop the situation from escalating.
If you are concerned about how your partner is treating you and want to discuss the legal options available to you, please call Langley Wellington LLP on 01452 521 286. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.
What legal help is there for domestic abuse cases?
Domestic abuse is a crime and there are various measures that can be put in place to protect you. These include:
- Non-molestation order. This is a court order which stops the abuser being violent towards you, intimidating you, communicating with you, or coming to a certain property or area. Non-molestations orders usually last between three months and a year, though can cover a longer period. Failure to adhere to a non-molestation order is a criminal offence.
- Occupation order. This court order can be used to prevent the accused from living in the family home or entering an identified distance around it.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which came into force on 30 April 2021, strengthens protection for the victims of domestic abuse in various ways. These include, for example:
- By recognising coercive and controlling behaviour and other forms of non-physical abuse as examples of domestic violence under the law.
- Giving police the power to issue a Domestic Abuse Protection Notice (DVPN) requiring abusers to vacate the family home for up to 48 hours.
- Placing a duty on local authorities in England to provide victims of domestic abuse and their children with safe accommodation.
- Prohibiting perpetrators of abuse from cross-examining their victims in person in the civil and family courts in England and Wales.
For more information about the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, click here.
Domestic Abuse Solicitors Gloucester and Cheltenham
Speaking to an experienced solicitor who specialises in domestic abuse cases is crucial for victims to receive the protection they need.
Our compassionate and friendly domestic abuse solicitors at Langley Wellington provide sensitive legal advice that is in your best interests and proportionate to your concerns.
Your safety and that of your children is paramount. Our solicitors will take the time to understand your situation and liaise with other agencies to provide confidential advice about the options open to you.
If you have concerns about how your partner is treating you and want to know where you stand legally, please call 01452 521 286 (Gloucester Office), 01242 269 998 (Cheltenham Office), email lawyers@langleywellington.co.uk or fill in this contact form.
Our specialist family law team in Cheltenham and Gloucester have the experience to assist.
This blog is not intended to be taken as advice or acted upon. If you are seeking legal advice, please get in touch with our team of solicitors.
