Domestic abuse
and safeguarding

• If you’re in immediate danger, please call 999 and ask for the Police, even if you can only whisper. You may be asked to cough or tap the keys on your phone to answer questions.
• If you can’t speak, press 55 when prompted and your call will be transferred to the police. This only works on mobile phones and does not allow the police to track your location.
• If you call 999 from a landline and you can’t speak, your call will be transferred to the police. Calling from a landline will automatically give the police information about your location.
• Or call the Domestic Abuse 24 hour support helpline on 0808 2000 247.
• If you’re deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, you can register your mobile phone with the emergency SMS service. You’ll then be able to send an SMS text message to 999 to get help.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse isn’t just physical and doesn’t just happen between two people in a relationship. It can involve an ex partner, a member of the family or a friend and can happen at any stage during the relationship and after the relationship has ended. 

It can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, background or financial situation. It can happen inside your home, elsewhere, or online and can include:

• Violent or threatening behaviour
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Controlling or coercive behaviour
• Economic or financial abuse
• Psychological or emotional abuse
• Honour-based abuse 
• Forced marriage
• Female genital mutilation (FGM)

You can find more information about domestic abuse here.

If you feel someone may be suffering from abuse, trust your instinct and report your concerns.

Further information