Domestic violence
One in four families will experience domestic violence at some time in their lives

Domestic violence is a general term used to describe a range of behaviour often used by one person to control and dominate another with whom they are in a close relationship. Domestic violence nearly always happens in private.

Does your partner or anyone else in your family:

• Threaten to hurt you, your family or pets?
• Call you names, tell you that you are worthless?
• Intimidate you emotionally or physically?
• Criticise your appearance, your clothing or your cooking?
• Insist on controlling the finances and deny you access to money?
• Force you to have sex when you don't want to?
• Throw things, pull your hair, threaten you with weapons?

These are all acts of domestic violence. You are not responsible for the violence. There are organisations waiting to help.

 What is domestic violence?
 Facts about domestic violence
 Directory of services
 Help and advice

What is domestic violence?

• Domestic violence is physical, emotional or sexual abuse that takes place within a close relationship.
• Most abuse is by men against women.
• Abuse can also take place in lesbian and gay relationships and is occasionally perpetrated by women against men.
• Domestic violence affects women regardless of class, race, age, disability or lifestyle.

Some facts about domestic violence:

• One in four women will experience domestic violence at some time in their lives.
• Two women are killed by their partner or former partner each week.
• UK Police attend a Domestic violence incident every minute of every hour of every day.
• Over 45,000 women and children stay in a Refuge each year.
• On average a woman will be assaulted by her partner or ex-partner 35 times before reporting it to the police.
• In 90% of incidents of domestic violence, the children are in the same or the next room.
• In households were women are abused it is twice as likely that children are also abused.

Find out more from the BBC's website 'Hitting Home' and the Metropolitan Police new campaign site 'Violence behind closed doors'

Directory of services
We have produced a directory of services offered by various organisations to support victims of domestic violence.

 Domestic violence - directory of services (866 kb)

You can also download an information leaflet about domestic violence and substance misuse.

 Domestic violence and substance misuse (414 kb)

Help and advice
If you need support and advice or emergency accommodation to stop violence within your family, these organisations will be able to help.

Wandsworth Council: Social Services (9am-5pm)
020 8871 6622
Email: domesticviolence@wandsworth.gov.uk

Wandsworth Safeguarding Children
020 8871 6622

Wandsworth Women's Aid
020 8871 2664 (24hr answer phone)

Women's Aid 24hr National Domestic Violence Helpline
08457 023468

Refuge 24hr National Crisis Line
0870 599 5443

Mensaid - free practical advice and support to men who have been abused
0871 223 9986

Shelterline
0808 800 4444

Emergency Social Services (6pm-8am)
020 8871 6000

Housing Advice
020 8871 6840

Crime Prevention Centre
020 8871 0803

Imani Family Support Project - community programme to enhance the lives of families living with or fleeing domestic violence
0207 207 1117

Shanti Women's Aid Advice, support & short term accommodation for South Asian women.
020 8664 4000

Action on Elder Abuse - Freephone helpline for elders suffering abuse
0808 808 8141

The Police - in an emergency dial 999
 
Police Community Safety Unit
020 8247 5424

Victim Support Wandsworth
020 7223 1234

Samaritans
08457 90 90 90

Broken Rainbow
A referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people experiencing domestic violence.
07812 644 914

Southall Black Sisters Advice - support and help for black and asian women.
020 8571 9595

Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre - legal advice
020 8767 2777

Wandsworth Citizens Advice Bureaux
020 8333 6960

NHS Direct - confidential health care advice
0845 4647 - or talk to your GP or health professional

You can also search the database of local voluntary groups in Wandsworth at the Voluntary Information Service (VIS) site.

For men who wish to end their abusive or violent behaviour towards their partners or ex-partners:

Domestic Violence Intervention Project - violence prevention programme
0208 563 7983

Everyman Project - counselling programme
020 7263 8884

Aricas Support for men and their partners
020 8728 2343