Since the COVID pandemic in 2020, the number of domestic violence cases in the UK has seen an unfortunate increase. But it’s not just women who have to suffer in silence, different genders and age groups are targeted.
To break up the abusive power relationship, the government and other organisations that tackle domestic violence and abuse encourage victims to report such cases. This makes it easy to track offenders and hold them accountable for their actions.
If you were or are a victim of domestic abuse, know that there are several channels you can use to report a gender abuse case confidentially to the relevant organizations. Let’s explore the available options at your disposal.
What is Considered Domestic Violence and Abuse?
Domestic violence is any physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse exercised against people 16 years or older living in the same home setting. But because is not easy to identify whether you are or were a victim, here is a list of physical and mental domestic abuse symptoms you may display if you have been the victim of abuse:
- Being faulted for the abuse inflicted on you
- Being forced into sexual relationships or contracts
- Bruises, bite marks, or burns
- Constant belittlement
- Financial control and manipulation
- Isolation from friends and family
- Mobile phone and social media monitoring
- Movement control (You’re not allowed to leave the house, go to work, or college).
How To Report a Domestic Violence Case
If you identify with one or more of the above characteristics of domestic violence, you can contact a domestic violence helpline and report your case for help by online chat, text, or email. You can also access support from domestic abuse groups for people going through such situations to start your healing journey.
When you want to report the case in person, you can use this link to find the nearest police station in your jurisdiction. These communication channels allow victims to report their offenders and get a way out of their stifling grip.
Some of the websites you can visit to get help if you’re a victim of domestic violence and abuse include:
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline
- Refuge
- Southall Black Sisters
- Finding Legal Options For Women Survivors
- ManKind Initiative
- SurvivorsUK
- Everyman Project
- Rape Crisis
- Honour Network Helpline
- Hourglass
- National Stalking Helpline
- National LGBTR + Domestic Abuse Helpline
- SignHealth – Domestic Abuse Service
- Respond
In case of an emergency, you must call emergency services on 999 to talk to them about the imminent danger. If you’re unable to talk for safety reasons and are using a mobile phone, punch 55 when prompted to have the call transferred to the police. Individuals with speech and hearing impairment can call the police on 101 or text 18000 if they haven’t registered with emergency SMS services.
Support is available round the clock. Considering the gravity of this matter, utmost confidentiality and privacy are upheld to secure the reporter’s identity and safeguard them from repeated harm if they can’t escape the offender immediately.
Requirements and Documentation Needed
When applying for domestic abuse victim support, you are not required to provide so much information. Most of what is needed to prosecute the abuser will be unearthed by the police, medics, and psychiatrists once you begin the process. However, a few standard basics still apply to this situation, and these include the following:
- Name and address
- Proof of citizenship
- A description of your current situation
- Any other requested information
Where, When, And How to Apply for Help
As explained above, you can contact any organization and apply for this help online, through text or by email. You can also call the available domestic abuse hotline support contact for assistance. If you can report the abuse over the phone, you will be required to give an account of instances within the past year that you’ve been abused. The organisation you work with will help you file an injunction, molestation order, or occupation order, depending on the circumstances.
These moves allow you to bar the respondent from approaching you or your child and allow you to get access to protection from your domestic abuser. The team will send you to their medics and psychiatrists for evaluation to gather evidence against the offender to be used in a court of law.
What Happens Next?
Once you file for help from domestic abuse, you will get state protection if the offender threatens your life. The team will also link you with counsellors to help you unpack the trauma and start the healing process. Legal counsel and help will also be available once you decide to go this route.
The National Domestic Abuse helpline and other entities that assist victims of domestic abuse will walk with you until they ascertain your abuser is prosecuted for their crime and that you are safe to resume everyday life without fear of being attacked.
Can You Receive Any Government Benefits?
If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can get help from multiple government offices to ascertain your safety. You can receive help paying court fees, free legal counsel, and protected shelter away from the perpetrator.
Cost And Processing Time
Reporting a case takes a few minutes. However, the prosecution bit takes much longer. The variables of each circumstance are the primary determinants of how long it takes to resolve a case of gender violence. The amount you spend also differs from one case to the next, depending on the financial stability of each person.
Don’t Delay Reaching Out for Help
Domestic violence has been rising since 2020, but not all victims feel safe enough to come ahead and report these cases. And while some live in fear of receiving threats and other forms of abuse from their perpetrators, other victims don’t step forward because they do not know about the available domestic abuse support they could get if they reported the abuse. Now you know. If you are a victim of domestic abuse, you can get the help you need online. Visit the official government website for more information and get the process started.
