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Domestic violence and abuse is a crime and will
not be tolerated. If you are experiencing abuse these guidelines
will not guarantee your safety but may help to improve
it.
Tell Someone
If you are experiencing abuse it is important to tell someone
before it gets worse. If what you are experiencing is particularly
serious go into your local police station for help or if you or
your family are in immediate danger don't be afraid to call the
police on 999.
When you report an incident(s) of domestic violence or
abuse, it is important to give as many of the following details as
possible:
- date, time & place the incident occurred
- what happened (what was said or done, threats made etc)
- who has abused you and their relationship to you
- details of anyone who has witnessed the abuse
- any evidence of the incident (e.g. photographs of damage to you
or your property, e-mails, phone calls, letters etc).
If you feel you can't go to the police it is still important to
tell someone what is happening to you. This could be a trusted
friend or colleague or you can speak to a local advice center or
helpline for support.
During an incident of abuse or violence try to get out if you
can. If it is safe for you to do so, call 999 for the police. If
you can't get out, stay away from the kitchen, bathroom, garage or
other potentially dangerous room. Call for help if you can, your
neighbours may hear you and call 999 for you.
If your abuser has left home, you may consider changing the
locks and the telephone number and you could reinforce doors and
windows.
The most important step you can take for yourself and
your children to protect yourselves from abuse is to build a safety
plan. Since you know your abuser's actions and behaviour, you can
use this knowledge and build a plan. Your plan may include some of
the following:
- practice how you will leave the home safely in an
emergency
- teach your children how to call 999
- tell trusted family or friends what is going on
- arrange to have a safe place to go to
- prepare a bag of clothes, medication and other essentials for
yourself and your children. Hide the bag where you can get to it in
a hurry if you have to leave quickly
- make several copies of important papers and keep one set in the
bag (other copies could go to trusted friends or left somewhere
safe at work). You will need things such as proof of identity,
driving licence, birth certificates, passports, financial/insurance
information, benefit books or letters, court orders etc.
- keep your address book and diary with you
- if you have a car, make an extra set of keys and hide them
where you can get to them if you need to.
If you have already left the relationship and are still
being harassed:
- make friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues aware of
what is going on. Tell teachers at your children's school, so that
they are better able to help if you need them to
- try not to isolate yourself. Work out the safest routes to and
from home, school, work, etc. and use them. If you can't do this
try to travel with someone else
- if you have moved home or your partner/ex-partner has left your
home due to a restraining order, but you are still being harassed
at your home, make sure doors and windows are locked, call the
police, take pictures of any damage done to your home and keep any
abusive letters to show to the police. Make sure you have smoke
alarms fitted in your hallway.
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