Domestic abuse

Every fact on this page comes from legislation.gov.uk and the helplines’ own websites. We last checked it on 6 October 2026. Each helpline shows the date we last checked it. This is general information, not legal advice.

If you’re in danger now

Call 999 for emergencies. If you can’t speak, you can still get help: how to make a silent 999 call.

Signs of domestic abuse

Domestic abuse is often a pattern of behaviour that someone close to you uses to hurt, frighten or control you, but a single incident can be domestic abuse too. It can include:

• physical violence, or threats of it
• controlling where you go, who you see, or what you wear
• constant criticism, humiliation or blame
• taking or controlling your money, or stopping you working
• sexual abuse within a relationship
• watching you through your phone, apps or social media

Controlling behaviour like this is often called coercive control. It can be domestic abuse in law in every part of the UK, even when there is no violence.

Domestic abuse can happen in any relationship, whatever your age, gender or sexuality, and it can carry on after the relationship has ended.

How the law defines domestic abuse

The legal definition is different in each part of the UK.

• England and Wales. Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, domestic abuse is abusive behaviour between two people aged 16 or over who are “personally connected”. That includes partners and ex-partners, people who are or were married or in a civil partnership, people who have a child together, and relatives. Abusive behaviour includes physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, and psychological or emotional abuse. One incident can be enough. A child who sees, hears or experiences the effects of the abuse, and is related to either person, is a victim too.
• Scotland. The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 makes it a crime to carry out a course of abusive behaviour towards a partner or ex-partner. It covers violence and threats, and behaviour meant to isolate, control, frighten or humiliate you. Violence and threats by anyone else, including other family members, can be crimes under other laws.
• Northern Ireland. The Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 created a domestic abuse offence, in force since 21 February 2022. It covers a course of abusive behaviour towards a partner, an ex-partner or a member of your family, including behaviour meant to isolate, control, frighten or humiliate you.

You don’t need to know which law applies before you ask for help.

It’s not your fault

People who use abuse often make the person they hurt feel responsible for it. Nothing you have done makes abuse acceptable. You deserve to feel safe, and support is there whether you want to stay, leave or aren’t sure yet.

Helplines you can call

You don’t have to be sure that what’s happening is abuse before you call, and you only need to say as much as you want to. Each card shows when the line is open.

More specialist support

Our Support Directory lists organisations for domestic abuse, stalking, honour-based abuse and forced marriage, economic abuse, and families bereaved by domestic abuse.

Your options

You can get support without reporting to the police. If you do want to, read about the criminal process. You may also be able to get compensation: see your options.

This page gives information, not legal or medical advice.

Where this information comes from

• legislation.gov.uk: Domestic Abuse Act 2021, sections 1 to 3
• legislation.gov.uk: Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, sections 1 and 2
• legislation.gov.uk: Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021, sections 1, 2 and 5
• legislation.gov.uk: Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, section 38 (threatening or abusive behaviour)
• Men’s Advice Line: contact us
• ManKind Initiative: contact us
• Each helpline’s own website, linked on its card

Checked on 6 October 2026. Laws and helpline hours can change, so check the official pages before you act.