What is
domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse isn’t just physical – it is classed as any incident or pattern of incidents that includes emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse as well as controlling behaviour.

Whatever its form, there’s #noexcuseforabuse in Lancashire.

For anyone who feels they are at risk of abuse, it is important to remember that there is help and support available to you in your own time frame.

If you recognise any of these feelings or behaviours then you, or someone you know, may be in an abusive relationship:

Do you ever feel:

Belittled or put down?
Blamed for the abuse or arguments?
Isolated from your family and friends?
Stopped from going to college or work?
Accused of things you haven’t done?
Restricted in what you can wear, who you can see, where you can go or what you can think?

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, whether they’re male or female. Have you ever:

Been touched in a way you don’t want to be touched?
Received unwanted sexual demands?
Been hurt during sex?
Pressured to have unsafe sex – for example, not using a condom?
Pressured to have sex - If your partner, or former partner, has sex with you when you don’t want to, this is rape

Have you:

Been threatened?
Had things that belong to you destroyed?
Had your personal space invaded?
Had your e-mails, texts or letters checked?
Had your access to money restricted or are your finances being controlled by someone else?

Have you ever been physically hurt by being:

Help and support

For details of the domestic abuse help and support services in Lancashire, please click here.

Report it

If you’re worried about someone or you think that a person may be experiencing domestic abuse, you can report it online at: Home – Lancashire Constabulary – Report Online or by calling 101 or, if someone is at risk of immediate harm, dial 999.

What is domestic abuse?