Domestic Abuse - Crime Prevention - Surrey Police

What Is Domestic Abuse?

Surrey Police define domestic abuse as:

"Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional), between adults aged 18 and over who are or have been intimate partners, or are family members, regardless of gender and sexuality."

'Family members' include; mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister and grandparent, whether directly related, in-laws or step-family.

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

Domestic abuse is a crime that cuts across all social, cultural and religious boundaries. It has devastating and far reaching consequences for victims, their families and the wider community. It can affect anybody regardless of their gender, age, race, sexuality or social background.

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

Domestic abuse will affect one in four women and one in six men in their lifetime.

Two women a week and 30 men a year lose their lives due to domestic abuse.

We can help…

If you find yourself in a situation where you are in immediate danger phone 999.

Our first priority is to make sure that you and any children are safe. Police officers will come to your home, or wherever the incident has taken place, and will take whatever action is needed to make you safe. If necessary, officers have the power to force entry into your home to protect you. We will make an arrest when an offence has been committed or is suspected.

Domestic abuse is not acceptable under any circumstances and it is a crime that Surrey Police take seriously. We are committed to protecting the lives of both adult and child victims of domestic abuse. We will investigate all reports of domestic abuse effectively, to bring offenders to justice and hold them accountable for their actions. We work closely with our partner agencies to prevent and reduce domestic abuse.

Wherever you live in Surrey, there is a domestic abuse officer who can help.

There are three Domestic Abuse Units within Surrey Police containing trained and experienced investigators who are dedicated specialists in the field of domestic abuse. They are experienced in providing advice and guidance and can provide help at a time and place convenient for you.

If you’re living with an abusive person...

Ensure that you have a support system in place - family, friends and professionals (such as your doctor, solicitor, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Housing or Victim Support) who can assist you. Your abuser may try to keep you away from people who love and care for you. This is a way of making you more dependent on them.

Talk to family, friends and neighbours who you can trust. Ask them to call the police if they see or hear an incident occurring. Have a pre-arranged keyword or signal, which you can use on the phone to let them know you are in danger and need help.

If the worst happens and your partner attacks you, make as much noise as possible in order to sound the alarm.

Encourage your children to keep themselves safe by finding a place to hide in the house or by running to a neighbour's house. Recent research from Refuge has shown that there is a significant risk of young children developing emotional and behavioural problems if they have been exposed to violence or trauma. In some cases it was found that children under the age of five have even tried to intervene during violent incidents, putting themselves at greater risk of being hurt. Teach your children that it’s not safe for them to intervene directly and that they should remove themselves from danger at the first chance (but also make sure they know how to call the police).

Write down contact details for friends, family or colleagues that you trust - or professional organisations that offer help - and keep the numbers in a safe place. Plan how to get to a phone from which your call cannot be traced by your abuser. For example, use a payphone to avoid the number showing on your bill.

In case you have to leave your home in a hurry you should keep a packed bag in a safe hiding place, but also somewhere that you can quickly retrieve it from - perhaps at a trusted neighbour’s house. The bag should include all your essentials such as clothes, toiletries, any medication you may need, some form of identification, your child benefit books and your child's favourite toys. Pack a list of phone numbers, enough money for phone calls and a bus or taxi journey, keys and a chequebook. If you have children pack copies of their documentation too.

In some cases family pets can be used to blackmail you into returning to the family home, as threats could be made against their safety - so it may be worth making arrangements for a safe place where your pets can be cared for.

If you’ve made the decision to leave...

Arrange for a place to go. It’s best if this is a place unknown to your abuser. Remember that friends may sometimes be reluctant to assist you in this way because of concerns for their own safety.

If you need somewhere to stay at short notice there are support organisations or charities that are able to help. Many of these are listed in contacts box on the right-hand side of this page. It’s often possible to stay at a refuge for a few days, or even months, to allow you time to consider your future. You should also pre-plan childcare resources if necessary.

The economic implications of leaving your partner should also be considered before you leave. You will need to have access to enough money to support yourself and any children. Consider in advance opening a separate bank account, getting your own credit cards and opening a PO Box address for post. Remember, the Benefits Agency may be able to help you.

After you have left…

Safety precautions are key at this stage. Personal protection devices such as locks, alarms and mobile phones can be helpful. Be vigilant about your personal safety and, if possible, always travel with a friend or colleague. Tell your neighbours and local police so that they can alert you if the abuser is seen near to your home.

Many forms of harassment, intimidation and abuse can often continue after you have left. A number of options exist to prevent this from happening, such as your local Citizen's Advice Bureau and family solicitors who will be able to advise you on the best way to combat any problems you may be experiencing.

Having an emergency plan to vacate your home is a good precaution against any threat that your partner may pose to you in your property.

Abusers…

If you’re an abuser you should be aware that Surrey Police are determined to take action against you.

If you commit a criminal offence, even if a victim of domestic abuse does not request your arrest, a police officer can arrest you. Following your arrest you’ll be taken to a police station, where you’ll be interviewed and charged if appropriate.

Bail conditions may be set to restrict your activity. For example, you may be bailed on condition that you don’t return to the home of your victim. You may be remanded in custody until your court appearance.

Officers will gather evidence at the scene of the crime, take statements from witnesses, photograph injuries, obtain forensic evidence and use CCTV footage. Officers can also use their own notes as evidence in court. The past medical records of a victim and a history of previous incidents can also be used in court.

Surrey Police will do everything in their power to build the best possible case against you to present at court.

If you’re an abuser, or have abused in the past and recognise that you need help in order to change your behaviour, services are available. You can call the Respect perpetrator's helpline on 0845 122 8609.