Domestic Abuse - it can happen to anyone
Did you know......1 in 4 women in Surrey has experienced abuse from known partner since the age of 18.
1 in 8 women are suffering right now!
1 in 6 men have been affected.
Are you being hurt by someone close to you? Do you know someone who is being hurt by someone close to them?
What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic Abuse is any frm of physical, emotional, psychological or sexual abuse withi the context of a close relationship, usually between two partners or ex-artners.
Domestic Abuse may happen i any close relationship no matter what age gender, sexuality, or physical ability, aross all social casses, ad ethnic or racial backgrounds.
Abuse can involve:
Physical Abuse:
Hitting, slapping, punching, kicking and bruising
Sxual Abuse:
Rape and forced participation in sexual acts
Eotional Abuse:
Ridicule, constant critisism, threats ad manipulation.
Psychological Abuse:
Isolation, sleep deprivation, intimidation and threatneing or controlling behaviur.
Are you experiencing Domestic Abuse?
Sometimes poepl in abusive relationhsip feel that wht they experience is not serious enugh to be called abuse.
people in abusive relationships often becoe isolated from friends and family. It can feel as if you are the only one experiencing this .
May peeople feel that the abuse they are experinecin is their fault
You may feel that you would ot be understood or believed if you told family, friends or even professionals.
Suffering abuse can seriously affect your health, your confidence and belief in yourself.
Pleease remember you are not alone
Fore example, the South West Surrey Outreach Team can offer supoort and adice to women, men and children withi the commnity, whether they have left or are still living in an abusive relationshi.
WThey ca offer you support over the telephone or at an agreed eeting place where it is safe to do so
They can offer advice with housing issues
They also offer advocacy work to support you when attending court herings or solicitors appointments.
They can find yo emergency accommodation if needed.
They can just sit and listen to you if you just need to talk.
For further help and information please call their helpline number: 01483 577 392
This number is manned Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm. If we are busy please leave a message and we will call you back.
Please remember in an emergency to call 999.
Other helpful numbers to call:
South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Outreach - call us in confidence: 01483 577392
Surrey Women's Aid (25hr helpline) 01483 776822
Samaritans 08457 909090
Refuge 24 hour helpline 0808 2000 247
Childline 0800 1111
Here are some statistics taken from the book ‘Living With The Dominator - A Book About The Freedom Programme’. Pat Craven, 2008
1. In Britain 112 women a year are killed by a male partner or former partner. (Home Office 2007)
2. In Britain 22 men a year are killed by a female partner or former partner. (Home Office 2007)
3. In Britain a woman is killed by a violent partner every 3 days. (London Home Office 2007)
4. The Russian Government estimates that 14000 women were killed by their partners or relatives in 1999. (Amnesty 2007)
5. Women are 3 times more likely to be injured when pregnant. (Refuge 2007)
6. At least 750,000 children a year witness domestic violence. Nearly three quarters of children live in households where domestic violence occurs. (Department of Health 2003)
7. 1 in 5 young men and 1 in 10 young women think that abuse or violence is acceptable. (Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust 1998)
8. It is estimated that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence at sometime in their life. (Home Office 2007)
9. Every minute in the UK the police receive a call from the public for assistance to deal with domestic violence. This leads to the police receiving an estimated 1,300 calls each day or over 570,000 per year. (Professor Stanko E, The Day To Count: A Snapshot of The Impact Of Domestic Violence in the UK. Criminal Justice 1:2, 2000)
10. 1 in 20 women in England and Wales has been the victim of rape. Only 1 in 5 attacks is reported to the police. ‘Current partners’ were responsible for 45% of rapes reported to the British Crime Survey. ‘Strangers’ were only responsible for 8% of rapes. (Amnesty International 2007)
11. A Woman is assaulted an average of 35 times before she seeks help. (Amnesty UK 2006)
12. More women are killed or injured when leaving the relationship. (Lee S ‘Marital Rape and Marital Murder’ in Hamer, J et al. Home Truths About Domestic Violence. Feminist Influences on Policy and Practice: A Reader. London: Routledge, 2000)
13. There are 275 refuges for women in England. (Women’s Aid 2004)
14. In the UK a woman is assaulted in the home every 6 seconds. (Professor Stanko, as above)
