Domestic abuse
We aim always to protect residents' right to live in safety and free from harm or abuse. If you think somebody is in danger, please report it to us and the relevant authorities.
Overview
Domestic abuse is a single incident or pattern of controlling, manipulative, or violent behaviour used by one person to gain power and control over another. It can happen within a relationship, after it has ended, or between family members.
While domestic abuse has a gendered nature, with women being disproportionately affected, it is important to recognise that anyone can experience abuse, regardless of gender, age, race, religion or sexual orientation. Men, children, and non-binary individuals can also be victims, though their experiences may often go unrecognised or under-reported.
Domestic abuse is not limited to violent, physical actions. It can take many forms, including emotional, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse, and it can have a significant impact on mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
Domestic abuse is never the fault of the victim or survivor, and support is available for those who need help.
Everyone deserves to live safely and free from fear and harm.
How to report domestic abuse
If you’re worried you, or someone else, might be in immediate danger, always call 999 first.
If you need to alert the emergency services but can't talk safely, dial 999 and press 55 when given a cue. This will forward your call to the police and inform them of the situation.
If your situation is not an emergency, you can contact the police by calling 101 or attending a local Police Station.
If you’re worried you, or someone else, might be experiencing domestic abuse, we can help:
Call us on 0300 456 9996.
How we can support
We’re here to support anyone experiencing domestic abuse. This could include making your home more secure, discussing housing options, or connecting you with support services.
We understand that every situation is different, so we’ll take the time to explain all the options available to you and empower you to make informed decisions.
We aim to make sure you know your choices and feel supported as you work towards safety and peace of mind.
National support services
There are specially trained organisations that you can speak in confidence to:
National Domestic Violence Helpline
Run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge, this service provides 24/7 support and advice for people who are experiencing domestic abuse or are concerned about someone else.
Call 0808 200 0247
Rape Crisis
A specialist organisation that provides advice and guidance to people who have experienced sexual abuse.
Call 0808 500 2222
A charity that provides free and confidential legal advice to women.
Family law advice line – 020 7251 6577
Criminal law advice line – 020 7251 8887
Immigration and asylum law advice line – 020 7490 7689
Sexual harassment at work advice line – 020 7490 0152
A confidential support service for men in abusive relationships.
Call 0808 801 0327
Local support services
There are also local services that can provide support, advice and guidance. Find a service in your area using one of the directories below:
Information about local support services for anyone who has experienced sexual violence and abuse.
A service that provides support and advice to women and children across London experiencing violence.
Call 0808 802 5565 or email Solace.
Information about local services that specialise in support related to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Information about local support services for men.
By and for services
We recognise the importance of by and for services, which are designed and delivered by people from specific communities, such as support for Black women run by Black women, ensuring that everyone can access culturally competent and inclusive support.
Here is a list of by-and-for services in the UK and their contact details:
A specialist organisation for LGBT+ people experiencing sexual violence, domestic abuse or a hate crime.
Call 0800 999 5428 or email Galop.
A support service for Middle Eastern, North African and Afghan women and girls.
Call 0207 920 6460 or email IKWRO.
A national organisation that supports anyone experiencing honour based abuse.
Call 0800 5999 247
SignHealth Domestic Abuse team
A specialist domestic abuse service that supports deaf people.
Text 07800 003421 or email Sign Health.
A specialist charity that supports African and Caribbean heritage women affected by domestic abuse.
Call 0207 846 8350 or email Sistah Space.
A service that provides support, advice and counselling to Asian, African and Caribbean women and children.
Call 020 8571 0800 or email Southall Black Sisters.
Behaviour change support
If you think you might be harming someone, but want to change your behaviour and take responsibility for your actions, support is available to help you make positive changes.
Respect Phoneline has a confidential helpline, email and web chat service for anyone committing acts of domestic abuse, anywhere in the UK.
Call 0808 802 404, email or visit the website.
Our commitment
We are committed to continually improving our response to domestic abuse and are actively working towards DAHA (Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance) accreditation to ensure we provide the best possible support.
We invite both residents and professionals to share feedback on the response they’ve received, whether positive or negative, as this helps us learn and make necessary improvements to better support those affected by domestic abuse.
Translation services
Our translation and interpretation services, supplied by Dals, provide language services in more than 100 languages and local dialects, including British Sign Language (BSL).
To access any of these translation and interpretation services, please get in touch with our customer service centre on 0300 456 9996.
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