24 Hour Domestic Violence Help-line

There are many definitions of domestic violence.  Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum has its own definition:  'Domestic violence (physical, sexual, emotional and/or other abuse) occurs between current or former partners, for the purpose of gaining power and control.  We acknowledge that abuse can occur in same sex relationships and to men by women they know, to older people and children.  The overwhelming majority of domestic violence is experienced by women and children and perpetrated by men.   '     May 2001

Many other organisations follow the Home Office definition:  The Home Office, together with the inter-ministerial group, have agreed the following definition of domestic violence:

“Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.”

It is proposed that the core definition is also supplemented by the following to provide context:

“Domestic violence can go beyond actual physical violence. It can also involve emotional abuse, the destruction of a spouse’s or partner’s property, their isolation from friends, family or other potential sources of support, control over access to money, personal items, food, transportation and the telephone and stalking.  Violence will often be witnessed by children and there is an overlap between the abuse of women and abuse (physical and sexual) of children. The wide adverse effects of living with domestic violence for children must be recognised as a child protection issue. They link to poor educational achievement, social exclusion and to juvenile crime, substance misuse, mental health problems and homelessness, from running away.It is acknowledged that domestic violence and abuse can also manifest itself through the actions of immediate and extended family members through the perpetration of illegal activities such as forced marriages, so called ‘honour’ crimes and female genital mutilation. Extended family members may condone or even share in the pattern of abuse.”