The following is a definition of domestic abuse in accordance with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021:
'Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling or coercive; violent or threatening behaviour or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. Abuse can encompass, but is not limited to psychological, physical, sexual, economic and emotional abuse. Sexual abuse is defined as any sexual act or attempted act committed against someone without their consent, regardless of the relationship to the victim. Economic abuse means any behaviour that has a substantial adverse effect on a person’s ability to acquire, use or maintain money or other property or obtain goods or services’.
Further information on the types of domestic abuse and the impact it can have can be found in the Domestic Abuse Act statutory guidance (external link).
All forms of domestic abuse can have a significant impact on children and young people, including coercive and controlling behaviour. Children and young people may experience domestic abuse directly, including in their own intimate relationships, or indirectly due to the impact the abuse has on others such as the non-abusive parent. If a child is demonstrating abusive behaviours towards family members, this should be considered under the headline outcome ‘Improved Family Relationships’.
Domestic abuse remains an important problem to tackle, and positive outcomes may rely on changes in perpetrator behaviour.
The following resources will provide guidance in relation to “Domestic Abuse”:
- Domestic abuse - The Domestic abuse toolkit provides you with useful advice, tools, forms and planning to help you assist someone effected by domestic abuse. It also provides Key contacts and referrals that you can access, powers and definitions as well policy and guidance to help raise awareness of Domestic abuse
- Domestic Abuse Basic Awareness Training (external link) - This course is aims to give a basic awareness of issues surrounding domestic abuse.
There are a number of organisations that can support children and families with being safe from domestic abuse: