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We Are Here to Support You
If you are in fear of, or experiencing domestic abuse of any kind, you are not alone and can talk to us in confidence.
MHA condemns any form of abuse.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you can’t speak and are calling on a mobile press 55 to have your call transferred to the police.
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What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is when someone in a close relationship with you behaves in a way that causes you physical, mental, or emotional damage. Domestic abuse includes any incident of threatening behaviour. Domestic abuse can be psychological, physical, social, economic or emotional.
Domestic abusers are usually a person’s spouse, partner, ex-spouse, ex- partner or other close family member. Most people affected by domestic abuse are women, but some men are abused by their partners.
Abuse is not just about physical violence, it can involve emotional abuse or coercive control. This is when someone uses a form of oppression to make you feel afraid. They will repeatedly use the same tactic and behave in a way that makes you feel controlled, dependent, isolated or scared.
Domestic abuse could involve:
- Destruction of property
- Isolation from friends, family or other potential sources of support
- Threats to harm or kill you and/or your children
- Control over access to money and how you spend it, personal items, food, transport and telephones
- Watching your movements/stalking
- Repeatedly putting you down, calling you names and telling you that you are worthless
- Threatening to publish information about you or report you to authorities
- Forcing you to take part in criminal activity or child abuse
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- Human Trafficking
- Forced marriage & honour-based abuse
Domestic abuse can include violence inflicted on or witnessed by children.
The adverse effects of living with domestic abuse for children is a child protection issue. The effects can link to poor educational achievement, social exclusion, juvenile crime, substance misuse, mental health problems and homelessness from running away. Domestic abuse is not a ‘one-off’ occurrence, it is frequent and persistent.
It is never the fault of the person who is experiencing it, and it is a crime.
The legal definition of Domestic abuse is:
Behaviour of a person (“A”) towards another person (“B”) is domestic abuse if A and B are each aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other (personally connected is defined under part 1(2) of the Act), and the behaviour is abusive. Behaviour is “abusive” if it consists of any of the following: physical or sexual abuse; violent or threatening behaviour; controlling or coercive behaviour; economic abuse (meaning behaviour that has a substantial adverse effect on B’s ability to acquire, use or maintain money or other property or obtain goods or services) or psychological, emotional or other abuse.
It does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct. A’s behaviour may be behaviour “towards” B despite the fact that it consists of conduct directed at another person (for example, B’s child). Children are also recognised as victims of domestic abuse under part 1(3) of the Act.
How We Can Support You
We work with many partner organisations to offer the right help and support to anyone living with domestic abuse. Both you and any witnesses will be offered support throughout the investigation and the reassurance your case will be dealt with confidentially and sensitively. Where proportionate, we will work with our partners to take action against perpetrators of domestic abuse.
If you are one of our tenants and you are a victim of abuse we may change or add locks to your home, offer window or door alarms, improve fencing, and add security lights or securing the property while you are away. It is important that you talk to us. We are here to help you.
If you want to speak confidentially to a member of our Community Safety team, please contact us by emailing ASB.Secure@monmouthshirehousing.co.uk or by calling our main line on 0345 677 2277. If you wish to speak to a female member of staff, please let us know.
Housing Options
For those at immediate risk
If you find yourself in the situation where you have become homeless or are due to become homeless, you should contact Monmouthshire County Council’s Housing Options Team as soon as possible through any of the Community Hubs or Contact Centre on 01633 644644.
Cyfannol Women’s Aid can provide refuge – safe spaces, offering welcoming accommodation for anyone escaping any form of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
For non-emergency
You can register on the Housing List via Monmouthshire Homesearch.