What is domestic violence - Domestic Violence Forum - The London borough of Barking and Dagenham.

What is domestic violence

Introduction
The term domestic violence refers to abusive and controlling behaviour carried out by people toward their partners and/or ex-partners. Some organisations and individuals also use this term to refer to abusive and controlling behaviour carried out by family members towards other members of their family.

Perpetrators (those people carrying out the abuse) use violence and/or abuse in order to gain and/or maintain power and control over their (ex) partners and/or family members. Most (over 90%) perpetrators of domestic violence are men and most victims/survivors are women.

However there are some women who perpetrate domestic violence and there are some men who experience domestic violence. Domestic violence can and does occur within lesbian and gay relationships as well as within heterosexual relationships.

Forms of Domestic Violence |
There are many different forms of domestic violence including physical, sexual, emotional and psychological, financial and socially isolating abusive types of behaviour.

Perpetrators of Domestic Violence |
Perpetrators of domestic violence tend to be abusive in all of their partner relationships if no direct action (for example by the criminal justice system and/or a perpetrator's programme) is taken to change this type of behaviour.

Related Information
Additional points for professionals |

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Contact
London Borough of Barking
and Dagenham Direct

Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.

Tel: 0208 215 3000
Tel: 0208 227 5755
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk

Barking and Dagenham Domestic Violence Forum