What is the definition of domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse involves any single incident or pattern of actions where someone’s behaviour towards another is abusive, and where the people involved are aged 18 or over and are, or have been, personally connected to each other intimately or as family members (regardless of gender or sexuality).
The abuse can involve, but is not limited to:
Psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional, violent, threatening, controlling and coercive behaviours.
What is coercive control/behaviour?
In many cases the conduct might seem innocent – especially if considered in isolation of other incidents – and the victim may not be aware of, or be ready to acknowledge, abusive behaviour.
It is a pattern of behaviour that amounts to fear that violence will be carried out; or serious alarm or distress leading to a substantial adverse effect on usual day-to-day activities.
Some examples include:
-
isolating a person from their friends and family
-
depriving them of their basic needs
-
monitoring their time
-
monitoring a person via online communication tools or using spyware
-
taking control over aspects of their everyday life, such as where they can go, who they can see, what to wear and when they can sleep – this can be intertwined with the suspect saying it is in their best interests, and ‘rewarding’ ‘good behaviour’ e.g. with gifts
-
depriving them of access to support services, such as specialist support or medical services
-
repeatedly putting them down such as telling them they are worthless
-
enforcing rules and activity which humiliate, degrade or dehumanise the victim
-
forcing the victim to take part in criminal activity such as shoplifting, neglect or abuse of children to encourage self-blame and prevent disclosure to authorities
-
economic abuse including coerced debt, controlling spending/bank accounts/investments/mortgages/benefit payments
-
controlling the ability to go to school or place of study
-
taking wages, benefits or allowances
-
threatening to hurt or kill
-
threatening to harm a child
-
threatening to reveal or publish private information
-
threatening to hurt or physically harming a family pet
-
physical intimidation e.g. blocking doors, clenching or shaking fists
-
criminal damage (such as destruction of household goods)
-
preventing a person from having access to transport or from working
-
preventing a person from learning or using a language or making friends outside of their ethnic or cultural background
-
family ‘dishonour’
-
reputational damage
-
sexual assault or threats of sexual assault
-
reproductive coercion, including restricting a victim’s access to birth control, refusing to use a birth control method, forced pregnancy, forcing a victim to get an abortion, to undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or other procedure, or denying access to such a procedure
-
using substances such as alcohol or drugs to control a victim through dependency, or controlling their access to substances
-
disclosure of HIV status or other medical condition without consent
-
withholding and/or destruction of the victim’s passport and other such documents
What is the definition of child abuse?
Child abuse is when anyone under the age of 18 is either being harmed or not properly looked after. There are four main categories of child abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.
It is horrific that such crimes occur but devastatingly they do. It is not always easy to read about or educate ourselves on such matters but it is so important for more people to be aware and accepting of this sad reality in order to best equip ourselves to help those that we may just one day find ourselves in a position to help and quite possibly save. "It takes a village to raise a child" is a proverb that means that an entire community of people must provide for, protect and interact positively with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment. This is so true!
Warning signs for child abuse?
Often our gut instinct isn’t wrong but it is not enough alone, you need to know what to look for so you can report it but do act quickly. However, if what you saw/know is in relation to someone you do not know personally still report it appropriately even with little information. You could make all the difference!
Click her to read more about the types of child abuse and warning signs on the Metropolitan Police Website
