Domestic abuse – we can help

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is violence or threatening controlling behaviour between adults who are (or used to be) in a relationship or between family members.

There are various types of domestic abuse (see the power and control wheel below):

• Physical (hitting, biting, biting, choking, etc)
• Emotional (putting you down, insults, threatening, making you feel scared or humiliated, etc)                                       
• Financial (having your wages or benefits taken from you, having to explain how you spend your money, forcing you to spend your money in a certain way etc)
• Sexual (forcing you to watch pornography, do sexual things you do not want to)
• Coercive and controlling (checking where you have been, how much you spend, who you speak to, keeping you away from family and friends, checking your phone/social media accounts etc),

Domestic abuse also includes:

• abuse between generations - for example, adults and elderly parents
• ‘honour’ based violence
• female genital mutilation (FGM) - also known as female circumcision or cutting - and other harmful practices
• forced marriage

How can I report domestic abuse?

In an emergency, call the police on 999. If you are unable to talk, listen to the operator and then either press 55 on a mobile, when prompted, or wait on a landline to be connected to the police, who will be able to help.

Contact us. We have staff trained to help you. You can also get free confidential advice from:

• 0808 2000 247 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline
• Leeway's domestic abuse hotline
• Norfolk Social Services
• Respect - for men who are victims of domestic abuse 0808 8010327
• LGBT+ - Domestic Abuse Helpline 0300 999 5428. 
• Talk to the police in confidence on 101. 

What partner organisations does Broadland work with?

We work with the police, Norfolk Safeguarding Adults Board, local housing, charities, social services, mediation services and voluntary organisations such as Leeway to tackle domestic abuse. Working with partners helps us the make best use of their expertise and powers to support you.

What happens when I report domestic abuse to Broadland?

Abuse happening to me
We understand this can be a traumatic and worrying time. When you inform us, we will attempt to speak to you within 1 working day so you get the best support you need. We know it may be tough to talk, but we will always speak to you when it is safe to do so. We would never knowingly put you in any danger.

Abuse happening to somebody else
If you suspect domestic abuse is happening to one of our tenants, please provide us with much information as possible. If you think the person is in immediate danger, call 999. NB: we will not give the alleged perpetrator or victim your details. We will explain what steps we will take, and we will not do anything that we think will put our tenant in danger.

Will everything I say be confidential?

Yes. We carry out all interviews and conversations with you about personal and sensitive matters in private. You can meet staff at one of our offices or at another safe venue. You can also agree the best way to contact you to arrange meetings.

Occasionally, to protect you and others from harm, we have to share information with the police or social services. We always try to ask your permission first and let you know how the information will be used. If this is the case, your information will be held in a safe place and will not be shared with other people unless they have the legal power to see it.

Emergency planning checklist

If you had to leave your home to escape abuse in an emergency or could not return, do you have...

• A safe place to stay?
• Money for taxis or buses hidden in a secret place?
• A bag with spare clothes (hidden or kept at a friend’s house)?
• Important papers (benefit documents, passports, birth certificates, bank books, injunction/legal documentation)?
• Phone numbers of friends, family, emergency social services and support helplines?
• Any medicines you or your children need?
• Keys?
• Address book?
• Sentimental items with a special meaning for you?

In case of emergency, you could keep these things hidden at a friend or relative’s house. Don’t forget to let support agencies know where you are.