Domestic Abuse Support
What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is a crime. It is defined as any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexuality, background, or socio-economic status.
There are different types of abuse and it is not always physical.
Emotional abuse
Does your partner ever:
- belittle you, or put you down?
- blame you for the abuse or arguments?
- deny that abuse is happening, or downplay it?
- isolate you from your family and friends?
- stop you going to college or work?
- make unreasonable demands for your attention?
- accuse you of flirting or having affairs?
- tell you what to wear, who to see, where to go, and what to think?
- control your money, or not give you enough to buy food or other essential things?
- monitor your social media profiles, share photos or videos of you without your consent or use GPS locators to know where you are?
Threats and intimidation
Does your partner ever:
- threaten to hurt or kill you?
- destroy things that belong to you?
- stand over you, invade your personal space?
- threaten to kill themselves or the children?
- read your emails, texts or letters?
- harass or follow you?
Physical abuse
The person abusing you may hurt you in a number of ways.
Does your partner ever:
- slap, hit or punch you?
- push or shove you?
- bite or kick you?
- burn you?
- choke you or hold you down?
- throw things?
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse can happen to anyone.
Does your partner ever:
- touch you in a way you do not want to be touched?
- make unwanted sexual demands?
- hurt you during sex?
- pressure you to have unsafe sex – for example, not using a condom?
- pressure you to have sex?
Economic Abuse
Financial or economic abuse is controlling access to money or resources, including putting someone into debt, preventing them from working or taking their wages.
People commonly use the terms economic abuse and financial abuse interchangeably, since they involve similar behaviours. It can be helpful to think of financial abuse as a subcategory of economic abuse.
Advice and support
Click the link below to access Bromley's domestic abuse support services.
Domestic Abuse Support Services - Bromley against Domestic Abuse
Bromley and Croydon Women's Aid (BCWA)
A number of services are commissioned from Bromley and Croydon Women’s Aid to support victims and survivors, these include One Stop Shop support, outreach services, support groups, prevention services and refuges.
Respect is a mens advice helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.
London Victim and Witness Service 0808 168 9291
My Support Service from Victim Support
National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247
NHS Choices - getting help for domestic abuse
One Stop Shop is a service provided by Bromley & Croydon Women's Aid. To use the virtual One Stop Shop, call 0208 313 9303.
Refuge - Domestic Abuse Support
Sistah Space supports African and Caribbean heritage women affected by domestic and sexual abuse
Karma Nirvana - anyone can call Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes.
Galop - if you identify as LGBTQ+ you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support.
Ask for Angela - Ask for Angela is the national scheme that helps anyone who is feeling vulnerable on a night out to get the support they need. This is a London based initiative.
Enough - This website talks about abuse towards women and girls but there’s support for all victims.
Please see the Domestic Abuse page in our Information for Children and Young People section for organisations who specifically help and support children and young people.