Domestic Violence
If you are being abused by a partner, ex-partner or family member, there are several organisations in West Oxfordshire that offer free and confidential help.
Domestic abuse is a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour.
Your partner, ex-partner or family member may want to control every aspect of your life from where you go, who you see and what you spend. It affects all types of gender, age, religious belief, sexual orientation, race and disability.
The Government defines domestic violence as:
"Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.
Children
It is emotionally damaging for children to live in a home where there is domestic abuse.
People experiencing domestic abuse often worry what will happen to their children if they disclose it to someone. You will be supported to ensure that they are protected from the effects. There is help for you and your children to be safe and reduce the risk.
1 in 10 lives are being affected by domestic abuse; if that includes you or someone you know, get help and support by visiting: www.reducingtherisk.org.uk or www.amiabused.com
Telephone the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 731 0055 for advice and support.
Open Mondays - Saturdays 10am to 4pm. In an emergency dial 999.
There is also a national 24hr helpline on 0808 2000 247 outside of local helpline hours.
The following services are also available:
Emergency temporary housing: 01993 705 056
Thames Valley Police Domestic Violence Units: 0845 8 505 505
Victim Support: 0845 450 3883
Broken Rainbow: 08452 604 460
Kiran Asian Women's Aid: 0208 558 1986
Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327
Elder Abuse: 0808 808 0327
Childline: 0800 1111
Is there any information available online?
There are websites which offer further information and advice.
Reducing the Risk - An Oxfordshire-based organisation
The Hideout - support for children and young people
Broken Rainbow - support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
Heart Programme - support for young people, delivered by Childline
Staying safe online
If you do not want anyone to know that you have visited this page or any other domestic violence websites, please follow the steps below to clear the computer's history.
Netscape
Pull down Edit menu, select Preferences. Click on Navigator on choose 'Clear History'. Click on Advanced then select Cache. Click on "Clear Disk Cache". On older versions of Netscape: Pull down Options menu. Select Network Options, Select Cache. Click on "Clear Disk Cache".
Internet Explorer
Pull down Tools menu, select Internet Options. On General page, under Temporary Internet Files , click on "Delete Files". Under History click on "Clear History."
AOL
Pull down Members menu, select Preferences. Click on WWW icon. Then select Advanced. Purge Cache.
