Domestic Abuse, Sexual Abuse and Sex Work

Domestic abuse, Sexual abuse and Sex work

Domestic abuse can involve any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse. It can apply to anyone:

Aged 16 or over
Who are or have been intimate partners or family members
Any gender or sexuality

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to the following types of abuse:

Psychological: Jealousy, humiliation, degradation, put downs, isolation from family and friends, threats of suicide, using the children to inform or report on you.
Physical: Beating, kicking, slapping, punching, burning, strangulation, stabbing or denying sleep.
Sexual: Rape, enforced sex or prostitution, pornography, or any sexual behaviour or activity which you find unacceptable.
Financial: Withholding money, monitoring your spending, preventing you from working
Emotional: Name calling, making light of the abuse or denying the abuse, threats to harm you or your children.
Coercive control: A pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence

Domestic abuse can also include Harassment, stalking and online/digital abuse.

The stats

1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience abuse at some point in their lifetime
Domestic abuse-related crime is approximately 8% of total crime.
On average the police receive an emergency call relating to domestic abuse every 30 seconds.
Women’s offending is more likely than men's to be linked to their relationships
Of young women offenders in custody, 40% have suffered violence at home and 30% have experienced sexual abuse at home

Accessing support

If you are experiencing physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse or are being threatened or intimidated by a current or previous partner or adult family member you are a victim of domestic abuse.

You may be feeling frightened, isolated, ashamed and confused. Remember you are not to blame for what is happening. You are not alone and above all you do not have to suffer in silence - help is available.

If you would like to find out where and how to access support, please use the search functions at the side of this page.

Alternatively, if you are an organisation that provides services under this pathway and would like to be a member of this site, please contact us.

Domestic Abuse, Sexual Abuse and Sex Work