Domestic Abuse

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is defined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 as abusive behaviour by one person towards another person who is personally connected to them (this can be an intimate relationship or family member).

The Homelessness Code of Guidance states that domestic abuse is ‘any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse’.

Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse and sexual violence. It can occur in both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ relationships, and can affect anyone regardless of age, religion, race, sexual identity, or social background.

It can be a singular incident or a pattern of behaviour which is motivated by the abuser seeking to establish and maintain power and control over another person.

Behaviour is abusive if it consists of:

Physical or sexual abuse - Hitting, kicking, or any form of sexual violence.
Violent or threatening behaviour - Any threats of harm or violent actions.
Controlling or coercive behaviour - Actions that restrict freedom or force someone to comply with demands.
Psychological, emotional, or other abuse - Emotional manipulation, insults, or isolation.
Economic abuse - Controlling access to money or financial resources.

Anyone can be a victim, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, or background. Abuse can be a single incident or a pattern of behaviour aimed at exerting control.

Signs of domestic abuse

If you or someone you know experiences:

Verbal abuse or name-calling
Threats or intimidation
Physical violence like hitting or slapping
Restriction of freedom or access to friends and family
Unwanted presence in personal spaces
Control over finances

These could be signs of domestic abuse.

If you are in immediate danger

Call 999. If speaking or making a sound could put you at risk, stay on the line and press 55 when prompted. This will alert the police that you are in danger.

Support and help

Visit our support page for anyone experiencing domestic abuse.

Getting help from the Council

Emergency Housing

You can apply for emergency housing if staying in your current home is unsafe due to domestic abuse. The council must provide advice on finding safe accommodation, and you may be eligible for emergency interim accommodation.

If you are unsatisfied with the support, you have received please contact Shelter for further assistance.

Refuges

If you need to leave home immediately, refuges are available across the country. Contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for help finding a refuge and advice on safely leaving your home.

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Support to Stay in Your Home

We understand that not everyone wants to leave their home due to domestic abuse.

If it is safe to do so you could remain in your home with additional measures to safeguard you and the people, you live with.

Please speak to your landlord about sanctuary schemes or target hardening schemes. Your landlord may be able add additional security to your property for example they could; change the locks, secure windows and doors and help you to feel safer in your home.

If you are an Ipswich Borough Council tenant, please contact your housing officer directly who will be able to support you.

Protective Court Orders

There are also some protective court orders that you can obtain to help you feel safe in your own home.
You may be able to apply for a civil injunction through the courts called a non-molestation order which will outline conditions where the perpetrator is not permitted to contact you.

If you are still living with the perpetrator, you could apply for an occupation order to exclude them from the property for a short period of time. To removed them from the tenancy permanently, you would need to obtain an adjustment order.

Please contact National Centre of Domestic Violence (NCDV) for advice and support to see if an injunction would be able to support you.