What is Domestic Violence?

The government definition of domestic violence and abuse is:

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.  This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse:

• psychological

• Physical

• Sexual

• financial

• emotional

This definition, which is not a legal definition, includes so called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage, and is clear that victims are not confined to one gender or ethnic group.

Controlling behaviour is: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape, and regulating their everyday behaviour.

Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

Dorset Police Domestic Abuse Awareness Campaign

Please click here for further information.

What is Claire’s Law?

Claire's Law is a way of checking if your partner has a history of domestic violence. For more information about how to make a request for information, visit here.

National Domestic Violence Helpline:

24-hour helpline, 0808 2000 247

www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

Local outreach and help lines

Dorset County - Paragon integrated domestic abuse service

Paragon work with women, men and children.

Free phone: 0800 032 5204 (Please be aware that calls to 0800 numbers may show up on itemised phone bills)

Visit: https://theyoutrust.org.uk/

Email: ParagonDorset@theyoutrust.org.uk

 

Refuges

24 hour helplines:

Dorset  0800 032 5204

Bournemouth 01202 547 755

Poole 01202 710 777 (can take men, those experiencing Honour Based Violence and forced marriage)

Other local support Services

Victim Support

An independent charity who provide one to one support for all victims of crime, including support for male and female victims of domestic abuse, historical sexual violence and for children affected by crime. Support is free, confidential and tailored to your needs.

Southwest Victim Care Unit call 0300 3030 163

National helpline 0808 1689 111

Live chat - this is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is anonymous, confidential and free to use. To access it please visit the Victim Support website or visit the Victim Care website.

Operation Encompass

From April 2021 the school will be part of Operation Encompass.  Operation Encompass is a police and education early information sharing partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse. Information is shared by the police with a school's trained Key Adult (DSL) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident thus enabling appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

Children experiencing domestic abuse are negatively impacted by this exposure; domestic abuse has been identified as an Adverse Childhood Experience and can lead to emotional, physical and psychological harm. Operation Encompass aims to mitigate this harm by enabling immediate support, making a child's day better and giving them a better tomorrow.

Operation Encompass directly connects the police with schools to secure better outcomes for children who are subject or witness to police-attended incidents of domestic abuse. Rapid provision of support within the school environment means children are better safeguarded against the short-, medium- and long-term effects of domestic abuse.

For more information about Domestic Violence and support please visit:

Dorset - Domestic Abuse Dorset County Council

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) -  Domestic Abuse BCP