Domestic abuse

How to report domestic abuse

If you want to report to the Police, you can call 101, attend your local police station or report online. If it is an emergency or you are in danger, please call 999.

Police officers will speak to you away from the person responsible and take action to protect you and any children from further harm. They will keep you up to date through any investigation with a dedicated phone number. 

Police may decide to serve a Domestic Violence Protection Order. This means that a perpetrator can be 'banned' from returning to the home and having contact with you for up to 28 days.

If you are currently experiencing domestic abuse, you can apply for a court order to protect you and any children from harm (non-molestation order), or an injunction to decide who can stay in the family home (occupation order).

A Non Molestation Order (NMO) is issued to prohibit an abuser from threatening physical violence, intimidating, harassing or communicating with the victim. It can be applied for in an emergency and can be granted for up to 28 days. It is a criminal offence if the NMO is broken, and you should report this to the Police. 

A Occupation Order states who can live in a property as well as enter the surrounding area. You don't need to be the lead tenant or own the property to obtain an occupation order. The order will be made based on the individual circumstances. 

You can find out how to apply for an order, and what happens after on the gov.uk website. There are also services that will help you apply for them. Use the search bar at the top to find one available to you. 

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme is often called Clare's Law after the case that led to it.

This scheme allows you to apply for information about your current or ex-partner because you think you may be at risk. 

You can also request information under the Scheme about the current or ex-partner of a friend or relative of yours, if you believe they may be at risk.

Once an application is made, police and partner agencies will carry out a range of checks to reveal any records of abusive offences or any records of any risk of violence or abuse. They will then consider which information to share with you. 

Any disclosure of information will be made to you in person. 

You can make an application under the Scheme here.

A refuge offers a safe, secure and supportive environment for those fleeing domestic abuse. The specialist domestic abuse support services to the right of this page will be able to help refer you to one or you can call the 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

• Tech Abuse

Refuge, in partnership with Avast, have created the interactive tool below to help support victims and survivors to secure their digital devices and platforms against potential tech abuse from partners or ex-partners. 

Digital Breakup Interactive Tool