We all have a role in helping to combat domestic abuse and safeguard children and vulnerable adults.

If you work in Education, 3 to 5 children in the average classroom will be witnessing domestic abuse at home. Nearly all victims of domestic abuse will come in to contact with the NHS at some point in their lives and practitioners who recognise domestic abuse and know how to help can literally be a lifeline for survivors.

As 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime, you are also likely to come into contact with friends, relatives, neighbours or colleagues affected by domestic abuse.

While both men and women may experience incidents of inter-personal violence, women are considerably more likely to experience repeated and severe forms of violence. 32% of women who had ever experienced domestic violence did so four or five (or more) times, compared with 11% of the (smaller number) of men who had ever experienced domestic violence; and women constituted 89% of all those who had experienced 4 or more incidents of domestic violence.  (Walby and Allen, 2004)  These points are not always evident in statistical summaries (for example those produced by the Home Office) as they focus on single incidents, rather than on the complex pattern of overlapping and repeated abuse perpetrated within a context of power and control.

At home or at work – would you know how to help?

The Domestic Abuse newsletter can help you to keep up to date with developments in the field. Look at the training page of the latest Newsletter for information on courses.

There are links to a range of policy and guidance documents on this website and these can guide you to using best practice.