Our dedicated team is able to support and help victims of domestic abuse and their children to get the protection that they need from their partners, ex partners or other family members.
Domestic abuse is often a hidden crime that is not reported to the police. Therefore, data held by the police can only provide a partial picture of the actual level of domestic abuse experienced. Many cases will not enter the criminal justice process, as they are not reported to the police.
Domestic abuse is not limited to physical violence and can include a range of abusive behaviours. It can also be experienced as repeated patterns of abusive behaviour to maintain power and control in a relationship. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as any incident or pattern of incidents between those aged 16 years and over who:
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 outlines the following behaviours as abuse:
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises children under the age of 18 years who see, or hear, or experience the effects of the abuse, as a victim of domestic abuse if they are related or have a parental relationship to the adult victim or perpetrator of the abuse.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 2.3 million people aged 16 years and over (1.6 million women and 712,000 men) experienced domestic abuse in year ending March 2024.
How to report domestic abuse.
Call 999 immediately. Emergency services can help you if you are in immediate danger. You should still contact the police if you are experiencing any type of domestic abuse. It is important to know that you are not alone and you should tell someone in the first instance.
There are a number of supporting organisations that can also provide help such as :-
We are accredited Resolution members specialising in providing advice and representation in situations of abuse as well as having many years of experience in this practice area.
Our compassionate, experienced team of solicitors can advise you of your options, such as applying for a Non – Molestation Order, this is typically issued to prohibit an abuser from using or threatening physical violence, intimidating, harassing, pestering or communicating with you. An order could prevent the abuser coming within a certain distance of you, your home address or even attending your place of work. If someone ignores a non-molestation order, it is a criminal offense and the police can arrest them. They could face time in jail.
To ensure you have a place to stay an occupation order could be an option. This is a court-issued injunction that regulates who can live in a home or enter certain parts of it. It’s a serious order that’s often used in the context of domestic abuse to ensure the victim has a safe place to stay.
For more information please contact our family lawyers on 01924 291122 or email contact@catteralls.co.uk
