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Community, people and living 

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse can affect all members of the community, at any stage of a relationship, irrespective of age, gender, social class, ethnicity, income group, education level, culture or occupation.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse refers to any form of violence between partners in an intimate relationship and covers a range of situations:

  • Physical, sexual or psychological abuse e.g. punching, rape, verbal abuse
  • Financial or emotional deprivation e.g. withholding money or phone calls
  • The use/threat of legal sanctions against a partner e.g. threats about custody of children
  • Denial of rights e.g. denial of medical care, physical freedom

Where can you get help?

If you are being abused by a partner, ex-partner or family member, you can get free and confidential help from the following organisations:

  • National helpline (24hrs) - 0808 2000 247
  • Oxfordshire domestic abuse helpline - 0800 731 0055
  • Police (non emergency) - 0845 8 505 505
  • Careline - 0208 514 1177
  • Childline - 0800 1111
  • If you are worried about a child’s safety or wellbeing contact the NSPCC helpline free and anonymously on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk
  • Elder abuse - 0208 765 7000
  • Men's Aid - free practical advice and support to Men who have been abused (see link on right)   
  • National Child Protection Helpline - 0808 800 500
  • National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247
  • Oxford Relate - 01865 242960
  • Refuge - 08705 995 443
  • Samaritans - 08457 90 90 90
  • Shelterline - 0808 800 4444
  • Victim Support - 0845 3030 900
  • Women's Aid (24hrs) - 08457 023 468

If you are in immediate danger, please call 999.

Follow the useful links on the right for more information.

What is the Council doing?

The Council is working with its partners on the South Oxfordshire Community Safety Partnership to improve the support for victims of domestic abuse and to reduce repeat cases.  In particular, the Council is helping to set up a domestic violence champions network.  This is a network of staff from many organisations who support victims and who will work closer together in the future to make sure victims get consistent levels of support.

For more information on the Council's work on domestic violence please contact the Drugs and Alcohol Project Worker.

Men can also be victims of domestic violence. For more information visit www.reducingtherisk.org.uk or www.mensaid.com