Domestic Abuse Support
Everyone has the right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.
Abuse and neglect can occur anywhere: in your own home or a public place, while you are in hospital or attending a day centre, or in a college or care home.
You may be living alone or with others. The person causing the harm may be a stranger but, more often than not, you'll know and feel safe with them. They're usually in a position of trust and power, such as a health or care professional, relative or neighbour.
Different forms of abuse and neglect
There are many forms of abuse and neglect.
Sexual abuse
This includes:
indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, being forced to watch pornography or sexual acts, being forced or pressured to take part in sexual acts, rape
Physical abuse
This includes:
being hit, slapped, pushed or restrained, being denied food or water, not being helped to go to the bathroom when you need to, misuse of your medicines
Psychological abuse
This includes:
emotional abuse, threats to hurt or abandon you, stopping you from seeing people, humiliating, blaming, controlling, intimidating or harassing you, verbal abuse. cyberbullying and isolation, an unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or support networks
Domestic abuse
This is typically an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse by someone who is, or has been, an intimate partner or family member.
The Bromley Safeguarding Adults Board has outlined further information on Domestic Abuse, and the support available, here.
Discriminatory abuse
This includes some forms of harassment, slurs or unfair treatment relating to your:
race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion
Financial abuse
This could be someone stealing money or other valuables from you. Or it might be that someone appointed to look after your money on your behalf is using it inappropriately or coercing you to spend it in a way you're not happy with.
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.
Neglect
Neglect includes not being provided with enough food or with the right kind of food, or not being taken proper care of.
Leaving you without help to wash or change dirty or wet clothes, not getting you to a doctor when you need one or not making sure you have the right medicines all count as neglect.
Forced marriage
Some vulnerable adults may become victims of forced marriage. A forced marriage differs from an arranged marriage in that the person does not freely consent to it. A vulnerable adult may be coerced into a marriage or may not full understand the decision to marry.
What to do if you are worried about someone.
Concerns about the risk of domestic abuse increasing for adults and children under COVID-19 social distancing measures means that residents are encouraged to learn the signs to spot, so if something concerning is seen or heard, they know where they can report it.
In an emergency always call 999. If it is not an emergency, and you would prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crimestoppers online, or on the phone by calling 0800 555 111 with 100 per cent anonymity guaranteed.
Advice and support
- Bromley and Croydon Women's Aid
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.
- Ask for Angela
- Ask for Ani
- Enough
- London Victim and Witness Service 0808 168 9291
- Men's Advice Line - Respect is a helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.
- '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 virutal 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
- Victim Support 0808 168 9111
- 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.
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.