It isn't just bruises.
It's a pattern.

A pattern of acts designed to make you dependent, isolated, frightened or to deprive you of independence. Since 2015, this is a criminal offence in England & Wales (s.76 Serious Crime Act 2015) with up to 5 years' prison. It can include monitoring your movements, controlling money, dictating who you see, what you wear, what you eat, or making constant threats. You don't need physical injury to report it.

Any unwanted physical contact intended to hurt, frighten or control — hitting, slapping, kicking, choking (a specific offence in its own right since 2022), shoving, restraining, denying you sleep or medical care, harming pets to scare you.

Rape, sexual assault, pressured or coerced sex, sharing or threatening to share intimate images, reproductive coercion (controlling contraception or forcing pregnancy/abortion). Marriage and relationships do not change the law — non-consensual sex is rape, full stop.

Recognised in law since the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Includes taking your wages, preventing you from working, running up debt in your name, refusing to let you access your own bank account, hiding household income, or controlling all spending. It's a deliberate trap.

Verbal attacks, humiliation, name-calling, gaslighting (making you doubt your memory or sanity), threats to harm you, your children, your pets or themselves, silent treatment, and isolation from family and friends. It leaves no bruises but causes lasting trauma — and it's recognised in UK law.

Following you, repeatedly contacting you, tracking your phone or car, hacking your accounts, installing spyware, demanding passwords, monitoring your social media, sharing or threatening to share intimate images ("revenge porn" — illegal since 2015). The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Stalking Protection Act 2019 give you specific protections. For step-by-step tech-safety guidance — checking your device for spyware, securing accounts, safe browsing, protecting children’s devices — Refuge run a dedicated support service: https://refugetechsafety.org.

Abuse carried out to protect or defend the "honour" of a family or community — including forced marriage (a criminal offence since 2014) and female genital mutilation (FGM). Specialist UK charity Karma Nirvana runs a national helpline (0800 5999 247) and you can apply for a Forced Marriage Protection Order or FGM Protection Order from the family court.

Since 2015, controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship has been a specific criminal offence in England & Wales — even with no physical violence. You can report it to police on 999 (emergency) or 101. From 2023 the offence also covers former partners and family members regardless of whether you still live together.

Replacing the older DVPN/DVPO, DAPNs can be issued by police immediately to keep the perpetrator away from you (typically 48 hours), and DAPOs are longer-term court orders that can ban contact, exclude them from your home, and require behaviour-change programmes. Breaching either is itself a criminal offence. Important: DAPNs and DAPOs are currently only available in certain UK areas as part of a phased rollout. Check whether your area is included on the official gov.uk list: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-protection-notices-and-orders. If your area is not yet covered, you can still apply for a non-molestation order or occupation order via NCDV or the family court — see below.

A family-court order banning a partner, ex or family member from harassing, threatening, or contacting you (and your children). NCDV (National Centre for Domestic Violence) can apply for one on your behalf, free, often within 24 hours — they are specialists in exactly this and are usually faster than a solicitor. You can also apply directly to the family court, and emergency 'without notice' applications can be heard the same day. Breach is a criminal offence carrying up to 5 years' prison.

A family-court order deciding who can live in the family home — it can require the abuser to leave, exclude them from a defined area around the property, or let you back in if you have been forced out. Often used alongside a non-molestation order.

You have the right to ask the police whether a current or former partner has a record of abusive behaviour ('right to ask'), and police can proactively tell you if they believe you are at risk ('right to know'). Apply via your local force or online.

Parents, carers and guardians can ask the police if someone with access to a child has a record of child sexual offences. Police will share information when it is necessary to protect the child.

Forced marriage has been a criminal offence in England, Wales and Scotland since 2014. You (or someone acting for you) can apply for an FMPO from the family court to prevent a forced marriage or remove you from one. The Forced Marriage Unit (FCDO) provides confidential UK-wide advice on 020 7008 0151.

Created a statutory definition of domestic abuse covering physical, sexual, financial, emotional and coercive/controlling behaviour. Children who see, hear or experience the effects are recognised as victims in their own right. Survivors get a statutory right to local-authority refuge support, and DAPN/DAPO replace older orders. Non-fatal strangulation became a specific offence in 2022.

Under the Victims' Code of Practice you have the right to specialist support (IDVAs — Independent Domestic Violence Advisors), to be kept informed at every key stage, to special measures in court (screens, video link, pre-recorded cross-examination), and to make a Victim Personal Statement. You can request a review of police or CPS decisions (VRR).

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 sets a statutory definition of domestic abuse covering physical, sexual, financial, emotional and coercive/controlling behaviour by anyone you are personally connected to. Children who see, hear or experience its effects are recognised as victims in their own right. This is the legal foundation for every right below.

Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 makes controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship a criminal offence in England & Wales, with up to 5 years’ prison. Since 2023 it also applies to ex-partners and family members regardless of whether you still live together.

You have the right to apply for non-molestation and occupation orders in the family court — often the same day on a ‘without notice’ basis. Police can also issue immediate DAPNs and apply for DAPOs that ban contact, exclude an abuser from the home, and require behaviour-change programmes. Breach of any of these is itself a criminal offence.

Legal aid is normally available to survivors of domestic abuse regardless of income to apply for family-court orders. NCDV (0800 970 2070) can prepare and file applications within 24 hours, free.

Under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme you can ask police whether a current or former partner has a history of abusive behaviour (‘right to ask’). Police can also proactively warn you when they believe you may be at risk (‘right to know’).

You have the right to be supported by an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor — a trained specialist who supports you through safety planning, courts, housing, benefits and recovery. IDVAs are independent of the police, free, and you don’t have to have reported.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a statutory duty on local authorities to provide safe accommodation for survivors and their children. Refuge or the National DA Helpline (0808 2000 247) can find an emergency space, 24/7.

Survivors of domestic abuse are automatically eligible for special measures: screens in the witness box, video link from a separate room, pre-recorded cross-examination (Section 28), and removal of wigs and gowns. Cross-examination by the abuser in person is banned.

You have the right to make a Victim Personal Statement before sentencing, describing how the abuse has affected you. If the offender receives a 12-month sentence or more, you can join the Victim Contact Scheme to be told about release, licence conditions and parole hearings, and to submit a further statement.

If police or the CPS decide not to investigate or prosecute, you have the right to ask for that decision to be reviewed under the Victims’ Right to Review schemes. Requests should normally be made within 3 months.

You may be entitled to compensation through CICA for physical or psychological injury — even if no one is charged or convicted. Claims should usually be made within 2 years (longer in childhood-abuse cases).

Children who see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse are victims in their own right under the 2021 Act. They have a right to specialist support, to be safeguarded by the local authority, and to be heard in family-court decisions about contact and residence.