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Domestic abuse

Emergency contacts
If you are concerned about your own safety or someone else's, please contact your local police on the non-emergency number 101.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.

If you are in danger and unable to talk on the phone, call 999 and listen to the questions from the operator and, if you can, respond by coughing or tapping on the handset. If prompted, press 55 to Make Yourself Heard and this will transfer your call to the police. Pressing 55 only works on mobiles and does not allow police to track your location.

Recognise domestic abuse

Anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is not always physical violence. It can also include:

  • coercive control and gaslighting (the manipulation of a person, by psychological means, into doubting their own sanity)
  • economic abuse
  • online abuse
  • threats and intimidation
  • emotional abuse
  • sexual abuse

What signs to look for

If you believe that you or someone else could be a victim of domestic abuse, there are signs you can look out for including:

  • being withdrawn or being isolated from family and friends
  • having bruises, burns or bite marks
  • having finances controlled or not being given enough to buy food or pay bills
  • not being allowed to leave the house or stopped from going to college or work
  • having your internet or social media use monitored or someone else regularly reads your texts, emails or letters
  • being repeatedly belittled, put down or told you are worthless
  • being pressured into sex
  • being told that abuse is your fault or that you’re overreacting

See more signs of abuse to look for.

Become a Community Champion

Herts Sunflower Champions can be anyone working in a local business or service role that involves contact with the public.

Community Champions are given training on how to spot the signs of domestic abuse, signpost people to help and act as a network of eyes and ears around Hertfordshire.

To learn more about the scheme and download an application pack, visit Herts Sunflower.

Get help if you or someone you know is a victim

If you feel at risk of abuse, there is help and support available to you, including the police, online support, helplines and refuges.

Clare's Law

You have a 'right to ask' for information from the police under Clare's Law, also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, if:

  • you believe your partner may pose a risk to you
  • you believe the partner of a close friend or family member may pose a risk to them

When you make a request to the scheme, the police check their records for any previous convictions held by the individual in question. If these records show a history of abuse or violent offences, they will consider whether to share this information with you. If the police do decide to share information, they will do so in a face-to-face meeting.

You can make an application on the Herts Police website or by calling 101.

Support Services

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