Domestic violence is the abuse of one partner within an intimate or family relationship. It is the repeated, random and habitual use of intimidation to control a partner. The abuse can be physical, emotional, psychological, financial or sexual. Although men can be abused too, the statistics show that in most cases it is women who are abused.
- One in four women is abused during her lifetime.
- One in nine is severely physically abused each year.
- Two are killed each week .
(stats from Refuge website 09)
If you are fleeing domestic violence and have not already obtained advice, please call the 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Dogs Trust's Freedom Project is a scheme running in London, Hertfordshire and Yorkshire, helping families in those areas fleeing domestic violence by finding free foster care for their dogs (and cats if London-based). You can find out more about it by reading through the related links below.
If you are concerned that an abuser might see your Internet history and know you visited these pages, please see the related links below for ways to hide what you've read.