Domestic Violence

Domestic violence has long been a hidden crime - something that families coped with because they felt too ashamed to talk about it or could not find the help they needed. Domestic violence is a continuing pattern of aggressive behaviour by one person towards another within a relationship. Although it is more commonly women (as many as one in four) who are the victims of domestic violence, men also suffer from domestic violence, at the hands of both men and women. Two women each week and up to 30 men in a year actually lose their lives through domestic violence.

Domestic violence does not have to be physical, some people never experience physical attacks but suffer years of psychological, sexual or emotional abuse. This can be just as damaging as physical abuse.

Abusers are often highly manipulative, making the person subject to the abuse feel worthless and incapable of sustaining a life without the abuser. The long term effect is a total loss of confidence and the abused person loses their sense of self - which is why many people do not leave these abusive relationships. On average there will have been 35 previous assaults before a victim calls the police.

The abuse does not have to happen every day. It may only happen infrequently but the first sign of any kind of abuse is an indicator of potentially serious, long term consequences.

Unfortunately, domestic violence can affect any relationship, regardless of how much you earn, how educated you are or how long you have been together. However, research shows that abusive relationships are often passed down through families and generations - the abused becomes the abuser.

Domestic violence of any kind is about one person's desire to have control over another person. If you are in this situation or know someone who is experiencing domestic violence then our section Addressing Domestic Abuse contains help, support and advice.