Domestic Violence is a hate crime and will not be tolerated. If you are experiencing domestic violence these guidelines try to help you to keep safe.
- Try to think about your partner's use of physical force and the level of force so that you can assess the danger to you and any children involved before an incident occurs.
- If you feel an abusive situation is about to arise, try and avoid it by leaving the situation.
- Work out which are the safest areas of the house - areas where there are no weapons and where there are always ways to escape. Try to move to these areas if arguments occur.
- If you have children, don't run to where they are, as your partner may hurt them as well. Think through and practise how to get out of your home safely in an emergency. If you have children practise with them.
- Plan for what you will do if your partner finds out about your safety plan.
- Keep a detailed record of any incidents of abuse (including details of the abuse and any threats made, the date and time that it occurred), and any evidence (e.g. photographs of damage to property or injuries to you, e-mails, phone calls, letters, etc.).
- If violence is unavoidable, try to make yourself as small a target as possible - dive into a corner if you can and curl up into a ball, protecting your face and with your arms around either side of your head and your fingers entwined.
- If your partner injures you go to a doctor or hospital for treatment and report what has happened to you. Ask them to document your visit.
