Protection from domestic violence
Domestic violence includes, “Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, sexual, physical, financial, emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.”
Action you can take for your safety
- If you are in imminent danger of being assaulted, or you have just been assaulted, call the police. Dial 999 and ask for the police.
- If you are very frightened for your or your children's safety leave (taking the child with you) as soon as you can.
- Phone Refuge or Women's Aid for help, or
- Go to the nearest police station, or
- Phone the police, and ask to speak to someone from the Domestic Violence Team.
The best way to protect yourself through the legal process is to find a family law solicitor.
Help for Domestic Abuse Victims in Devon and Cornwall
There are many local organisations and services to protect victims of domestic abuse in Devon and Cornwall. Please visit our database of support services for the region for further information and advice.
We take domestic violence seriously
- Domestic violence must be taken seriously. On average, two women a week are killed by their male partner/ husband.
- It is rarely a one-off incident.
- Seeing or hearing domestic violence causes significant harm to children.
- Some men are victims of domestic violence but most serious harm is to women and children.
- Abusers are responsible for abuse not victims.
Other sources of help
It is difficult for victims of domestic violence to take the steps they need to take to be safe. These organisations provide advice and support, and can help women find a refuge, a safe place to stay:
- Male Advice and Enquiry Line - 0845 064 6800
- National Women's Aid
- Welsh Women's Aid - 02920 390 874
- Rape Crisis Federation
- Refuge - 0808 2000 247
- Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0808 80 10 800
Further information
- You can find out more about how the courts deal with domestic violence from the Her Majesty's Courts Service guide to the Family Law Act 1996.The Community Legal Service also produces a leaflet on Domestic Violence, Abuse & Harrassment
- Respect Update - This document contains links to a number of sources of information both from a family and criminal perspective. It provides a great deal of information about current projects and activities to highlight the problems of domestic violence around the country and how they are being tackled.
