Domestic Abuse

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as:

Behaviour of a person (“A”) towards another person (“B”) is “domestic abuse” if—

1. A and B are each aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other, and
2. the behaviour is abusive

The behaviour is abusive if it consists of any of the following:

(a) physical or sexual abuse;

(b) violent or threatening behaviour;

(c) controlling or coercive behaviour;

(d) economic abuse  

(e) psychological, emotional or other abuse; *

It does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct.

*“Economic abuse” means any behaviour that has a substantial adverse effect on B’s ability to:

(a) acquire, use or maintain money or other property, or

(b) obtain goods or services.

For the purposes of this Act 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)

For the meaning of “personally connected”, see section 2.

 

Definition of “personally connected”

For the purposes of this Act, two people are “personally connected” to each other if any of the following applies—

(a) they are, or have been, married to each other;

(b) they are, or have been, civil partners of each other;

(c) they have agreed to marry one another (whether or not the agreement has been terminated);

(d) they have entered into a civil partnership agreement (whether or not the agreement has been terminated);

(e) they are, or have been, in an intimate personal relationship with each other;

(f) they each have, or there has been a time when they each have had, a parental relationship in relation to the same child.

(g) they are relatives.

 

Children as victims of domestic abuse

This section applies where behaviour of a person (“A”) towards another person (“B”) is domestic abuse.

Any reference in the Domestic Abuse Act to a victim of domestic abuse includes a reference to a child who

(a) sees or hears, or experiences the effects of, the abuse, and

(b) is related to A or B.

A child is related to a person  if—

(a) the person is a parent of, or has parental responsibility for, the child, or

(b) the child and the person are relatives.

In this section— “child” means a person under the age of 18 years; “parental responsibility” has the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989 (see section 3 of that Act); “relative” has the meaning given by section 63(1) of the Family Law Act 1996

 

Helplines to contact for help 

Domestic abuse:

Are you worried about your partner, an ex or a family members behaviour towards you? Or are you worried about someone in an abusive relationship?

In an emergency call 999, as incidents occur. If you cannot speak, tap 55 when the 999 call connects.

National 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000247.

Men's Advice Line - 0808 8010327.

Cheshire West Domestic Abuse Intervention & Prevention Helpline - 0300 123 7047 option 2.

Cheshire East Domestic Abuse Hub - 0300 123 5101 or text 07771 941 464.

Warrington Domestic Abuse Support - 01925 243359.

 

Adults:

If you have care & support needs, require an occupational therapy assessment, are an adult or are worried about an adult who is at risk/is being harmed or abused:

In an emergency call 999, as incidents occur.

Cheshire West Community Access Team 03001237034 out of hours emergency duty team call 01244 977 277.

Cheshire East Adults Teams 0300 123 5010 out of hours emergency duty team call.

Warrington Areas 01925 443322 or out of hours call 01925 444400.

 

Children:

For support with family life or where you have safeguarding concerns for a child or children.

In an emergency call 999, as incidents occur.

CWAC Integrated Access and Referral Team (IART) - 0300 123 7047 option 1 or out of hours call 01244 977 277.

Cheshire East Consultation Service - 0300 123 5012 option 3 or out of hours call 0300 123 5022.

Warrington Areas - 01925 443322 or out of hours call 01925 444400.

Childline (Under 18s) - 0800 1111.

NSPCC - 0808 8005000