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Domestic abuse

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For all victims or anyone concerned with domestic abuse.

Domestic Abuse Services North East Lincolnshire logo

Talk to someone

Whatever form of support you feel is best for you, please make sure you are safe to make contact. Things like emails and phone calls can be easily traced.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger call 999 immediately. If you can’t speak, press 55 when prompted. If you want to report and incident to police, call 101.

Call Domestic Abuse Services

01472 575757

Email Women’s Aid

[email protected]

Domestic Abuse Services Hub

The Domestic Abuse Services Hub is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm if you need someone to talk to. Whether you need someone to talk to or help taking the first step to leave, our general domestic abuse support drop-ins are here for you.

Mondays

9:30am to 11:30am Roxton GP, Pelham Road, Immingham
1pm to 3pm DA Hub, 15 Wellowgate, Grimsby
5pm to 7pm DA Hub, 15 Wellowgate, Grimsby

Tuesdays

9:30am to 11:30am DA Hub, 15 Wellowgate, Grimsby
1pm to 3pm Women’s Centre, Brighowgate, Grimsby (Women only)

Wednesdays

9:30am to 11:30am DA Hub, 15 Wellowgate, Grimsby
1pm to 3pm Clee Medical Centre, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes

Thursdays

9:30am to 11:30am Women’s Centre, Brighowgate, Grimsby (Women only)
1pm to 3pm DA Hub, 15 Wellowgate, Grimsby

Fridays

10am to 12noon Women’s Aid Hainton Square Charity Shop, Grimsby
1pm to 3pm DA Hub, 15 Wellowgate, Grimsby

Other drop-ins including legal help and support for housing can be found at: Drop in Sessions – Women’s Aid.

Local and national services

General
Young people
  • NELC Children’s Integrated Front Door – 01472 326292 option 2
LGBTQ+
Males
Honour-based abuse
Online abuse
Culturally specific support
Older people
Support for people with a disability

Contacting the police

In an emergency: Call 999 (if you can’t speak, press 55 when prompted) | Non-emergency: Call 101.

Although you do not have to report the abuse you are experiencing to the police, it does help to build a case against the abuser. Reporting at the time of the incident allows you to give evidence while it is fresh in your mind. Humberside Police work closely with support services to make sure you get the help you need once you have reported an incident.

Clare’s law

Request information about a partner

Clare’s Law gives you the right to ask the police if a current or ex-partner has a history of abusive behaviour. You can also request this information on behalf of someone you’re concerned about, such as a friend or family member.

There are two parts to the scheme:

If a risk is identified, the police may share relevant information with you or the person at risk, depending on the situation and your relationship to them. Disclosures are made in person and only when necessary to protect someone’s safety.

White Ribbon

White Ribbon is a charity engaging with men and boys to prevent men’s violence against women and girls (VAWG).

North East Lincolnshire Council became White Ribbon Accredited and pledged to work to end violence against women and girls.

Did you know that in North East Lincolnshire 21% of all crime in 2024/25 is related to violence against women and girls (VAWG)?

We are encouraging individuals to become ambassadors and champions to raise awareness of the White Ribbon message, both in their work and amongst their communities, friends and family.

Champions and Ambassadors complete a short training video when enrolling to equip them with how to complete the role. To sign up visit Ambassadors and Champions — White Ribbon UK.

Champions – Female and those who don’t identify as male

Ambassadors – Male and those who identify as male

Housing

Leaving home

There are different options available if you need to leave your home because of domestic abuse:

Safety plans should be made with a support worker when you are ready to think about leaving your perpetrator. This will normally include how to escape the abuse in a safe manner, but they will also include how to keep yourself safe at home if your abuser is still there.

This can include:

  • Keep a pay as you go mobile phone charged up and with credit, but turned off in a hidden location
  • Pack a bag with important things you would need if you had to leave in a hurry (such as money, passports, medication, change of clothes) and leave it at a safe place such as at a friend’s house or with a neighbour
  • Set up passwords with your child’s schools to ensure nobody is allowed to pick them up without your permission
  • Discuss with your neighbours (if it is safe to do so) when you would want them to call the police

Refuge accommodation can be accessed at any time by ringing 01472 575757.

The refuge is a safe house where women and their children who are fleeing domestic abuse can live free from violence.

It includes:

  • individuals flats
  • access to a shared communal room for socialising
  • access only possible with security key fob
  • 24 hour security system
  • emergency alarms and CCTV

While living in the refuge, you will also receive support sessions which will include planning your future. You can get help from any of the staff, but you will have an assigned support worker who will work closely with you from arriving at the refuge, right through to leaving for your own home.

More information about the refuge in North East Lincolnshire can be found at The Refuge – Women’s Aid.

The North East Lincolnshire Council Home Options Team can talk to you about your housing options if you cannot stay or return to your home because of domestic abuse.

Your homelessness support officer will be able to advise you on this. please fill in a homeless prevention service request form or ring 01472 326296 (option 1) – this is also an out-of-hours emergency contact. If you are fleeing an abusive relationship and are looking for social housing, you will be in a priority need banding.

There is support available if you have a joint tenancy agreement or own a property with your perpetrator. Women’s Aid legal drop-in sessions will be able to help you with this.

For more information, go to: Becoming homeless in an emergency.

Safety in the home

North East Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Services’ outreach support workers help people of all genders experiencing domestic abuse. If you want to stay in your own home but you feel like you might benefit from extra security measures, your outreach worker can help make arrangements for this.

Outreach is ideal for those who can’t or don’t want to leave their home or live in a refuge. We provide emotional support, practical help, and a safe space to explore your options—at your pace, with no pressure to decide until you’re ready.

Call them on 01472 575757 for support.

Legal help

There is support available if you have a joint tenancy agreement or own a property with your perpetrator. Women’s Aid legal drop-in sessions will be able to help you with this.

All genders

The DA Hub, 15 Wellowgate, Grimsby

  • The first and third Thursday of every month 2pm – 4pm. Provided by Ringrose Law

For women

Women’s Centre, Brighowgate, Grimsby

  • First Thursday 2pm-4pm. Provided by Pepperells
  • Second Thursday 2pm-4pm. Provided by John Barkers
  • Third Thursday 2pm-4pm. Provided by Pepperells
  • Fourth Thursday 2pm-4pm. Provided by Sills and Betteridge

For more general support, visit the benefits and help with money page.

Apps

Hollie Guard logo

Hollie Guard

A personal safety app which updates your precise location, acts as a personal alarm, deterrent, evidence catcher and more.

Download Hollie Guard
Bright Sky logo

Bright Sky

The app can help individuals spot the signs of abuse, know how to respond, and find support.

Download Bright Sky

About domestic abuse

If things don’t feel right in your relationship, but you’re not sure if what you’re experiencing is abuse, answering these simple questions might help – Am I experiencing domestic abuse?

Definition

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 provides a cross-government statutory definition of domestic abuse:

  • Definition of “Domestic Abuse”

    Behaviour of a person toward another person is “domestic abuse” if they are each aged 16 or over and are ‘personally connected’ to each other and the behaviour is abuse.
    Part 1

  • Definition of ‘Personally Connected’

    Two people are “personally connected to each other if: They are or have been married, civil partners, in an intimate personal relationship; they have agreed to marry one another;
    have had a parental relationship in relation to the same child; or they are relatives.
    Part 2

  • Children as victims of domestic abuse

    Applies where the behaviour of a person towards another person is domestic abuse. Any reference to a victim of domestic abuse included reference to a child who sees, hears, or experiences the effects of, the abuse and is related to either person.
    Part 3

For the full definition, see: Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Types of abuse

Domestic Abuse can include, but is not limited to:

Designed to make a person dependent by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.

May include

  • Isolating you from friends and family
  • Depriving you of basic needs including food
  • Monitoring your time
  • Taking control of your life such as who you see, what you can wear or where you can go
  • Depriving you access to medical services and appointments
  • Repeatedly putting you down or making you feel worthless
  • Humiliating you
  • Making threats and intimidating you

When a perpetrator uses words and non-physical actions to manipulate, hurt, scare or upset you. Could include:

  • Screaming and shouting at you
  • Mocking you, calling you hurtful names, or degrading you
  • Sulking or refusing to talk or be kind until you do something they want
  • Gaslighting you – telling you something happened differently to how you remember it or make you believe you are misinterpreting things
  • Aiming to make you doubt your own sanity
  • Threatening to hurt something, you, or themselves (including suicide)
  • Threatening to report you to the police, social services, or a mental health team
  • Telling you that they’re sorry and that they’re not abusing you
  • Telling you that you deserve or are the cause of the abuse
  • Threatening to kill or harm you and/or your children

A way for the perpetrator to gain control over you. If you consent to something because you are afraid or have been pressured into it, it is not consent.

  • Can include:Punching, slapping, hitting, kicking, pinching, scratching or biting
  • Applying pressure to your neck or holding you down, whether this restricts your breathing or not
  • Pulling your hair out
  • Spitting at or near you
  • Using objects as weapons to attack or hurt you
  • Punching walls or breaking things
  • Rape or sexual assault – which includes any act you did not consent to such as kissing, touching or penetration
  • Having sex or performing sexual acts when you are unable to consent, for example, if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or when asleep
  • Using force, threats, guilt manipulation or intimidation to make you perform sexual acts
  • Forcing you to have sex with other people or become a sex worker
  • Forcing you to have sex or watch porn in front of children
  • Degrading you during sex
  • Forcing to you watch others engaging in sexual activity

Your perpetrator may use money to control your freedom. It may include:

  • Restricting access to essential resources and services such as food, clothing, and transport
  • Refusing to allow someone to improve their economic status through employment, education, and training
  • Controlling the household income and keeping financial information a secret
  • Taking out debts in your name, sometimes without your knowledge or consent
  • Making you do a certain amount of hours at work
  • Not contributing to any bills
  • Having control over your spending, checking receipts or having everything in their name
  • As our homes become smarter, digital abuse is becoming more common. Perpetrators may used smart home devices to monitor and control. This may include:
  • Connecting to smart home devices to change the temperature, turning lights or speakers on and off, or watching you on security cameras
  • Cyberstalking – when someone repeatedly sends harassing messages
  • Monitoring your social media
  • Having access to your phone, email account, or social media accounts
  • Having access to your online banking
  • Not allowing you to have access to technology, such as a smart phone
  • Sharing intimate photos of you online without your consent
  • Using cameras or spyware to watch you and listen to your conversations
  • Using GPS locators or tracking apps to locate you
  • Constantly making unwanted contact with you through texts, calls, emails, or social media

For professionals

Multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC)

MARAC is a multi-organisation meeting with local agencies who discuss the highest risk victims of domestic abuse in the area. Information is shared about the risks faced by those victims, the actions needed to ensure their safety, and the resources available locally are used to create a risk management plan involving all agencies.

The MARAC process works better when the victim is cooperating and gives consent, however, if consent is refused this may be overruled.

Any professional agency can make a referral to MARAC.

Referral form (Word, 34KB) DASH form (Word, 197KB)

DASH forms and MARAC referrals should be sent to [email protected].

The Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), or a practitioner in regular contact with the victim, will contact them to let them know about the safety plan, measures and support each agency is offering.

During MARAC, individual actions will be given to agencies by the chair, these should be completed within 7 days.

All contacts must confirm with the MARAC coordinator when their agency actions have been completed.

MARAC/DASH training is delivered quarterly by the MARAC coordinator. This can be book via The Blue Door Support Service CIC Events – 2 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite

If agencies would like group MARAC/DASH training at their location (dependent on numbers), they should contact the MARAC coordinator via [email protected]

Related documents

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