If you are being abused by someone you have, or used to have, an intimate relationship with, this is domestic abuse. Domestic Abuse is controlling behaviour that is widespread and includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and financial abuse.

It harms both women and men and it wrecks thousands of lives.

Domestic abuse is rarely a one-off event. The abuse may be manifested in a number of different ways and types of abuse may fit in several, if not all, of the above categories eg intimidation, threats, verbal abuse, economic abuse, other non-violent but controlling behaviour.

Physical and sexual abuse tends to increase in frequency and severity over time, sometimes ending with death. Other forms of abusive or controlling behaviour may be ongoing.