Domestic abuse information and support
Domestic abuse (or relationship abuse) is defined as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading or violent behaviour. Most cases of domestic abuse are perpetrated by a partner or ex-partner, but the term also applies to abuse carried out by a family member or carer. If you’re experiencing any of these behaviours, or if you're supporting someone who is, you can find information here about the support we offer, reporting options, and where to find further information and advice.
Domestic abuse (or relationship abuse) is not always physical - it’s a pattern of controlling, threatening and coercive behaviour that can also be emotional, economic, psychological or sexual. It can be experienced by anyone, regardless of their identity or circumstances.
Some common examples of coercive behaviour include one or more of the following:
- Isolating you from friends and family, or making you feel guilty for not spending time with them
- Pressuring you to do things you don't want to do (this could include pressuring you into sexual activity that you don't want)
- Monitoring your time, where you go, or looking through your phone (this could include using trackers)
- Taking control over aspects of your everyday life, such as who you can see, what you can wear and when you can sleep
- Repeatedly putting you down, such as saying you’re worthless
- Humiliating, degrading or dehumanising you
- Gaslighting you to lead you to doubt your own memory or perception of reality
- Controlling your finances, stealing money or things from you, or pressuring you to buy them things
- Making threats, or doing things to frighten or intimidate you
- Threatening to 'out' your sexual orientation or gender identity
- Depriving you of basic needs, such as food or access to support services, such as medical services
Abuse is not always perpetrated by a partner; an abuser may be a parent, sibling, or adult child, usually living in the same household.
To find out more about recognising the signs of abuse, visit the Refuge website or NHS website, or contact our Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer (DALO) team for advice.
If you're experiencing any elements of domestic abuse and would like to speak to someone about the support we offer, you can get advice from our Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer (DALO) team.
If you've experienced domestic abuse, it's important that you understand your options for reporting what has happened to the police or the University to make an informed decision.
It can be difficult to spot the signs of abuse within a relationship or between family members. It's important to be learn about the signs so that you can evaluate whether your relationship is healthy. The Refuge charity can help you to recognise the signs.
If you're worried about someone you know, you can call the Refuge 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. They can offer you confidential advice on how best to help the person you're worried about.
Do not approach or challenge the perpetrator as this could escalate the abuse and put both you and the victim at risk of harm.
Chayn have also provided detailed guidance in their Good Friend Guide.
If a friend or family member tells you that they are experiencing abuse, it's important to listen to them and give them space to share their experiences. It can be really scary to reach out for help and it often takes a long time to build up the courage to tell someone what has happened. It's important not to dismiss what they are telling you and to reassure them that you believe them.
Let your friend or family member know that there is support available to them. If they are a Keele student, please encourage them to reach out to our Student Services team. They may decide that it's not the right time to get support or leave the relationship, and this is okay. Do not judge or force them to make a decision that may not be safe. They need to be able to have autonomy to make decisions and have control over their own situation.
It's understandable that you want to help, but it's important to never put yourself in danger. If you have reason to believe that someone is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
It can be difficult to support a friend or family member who is experiencing abuse, and can take a toll on your own wellbeing and mental health. Your Student Experience and Support Officer can support you with anything which may be impacting you. You can also ask to speak to our Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer team, although we cannot discuss individual cases, the team would be more than happy to offer further confidential guidance and advice.
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, also known as “Clare’s Law”, enables the police to disclose information to a victim or potential victim of domestic abuse about their partner’s or ex-partner’s previous abusive or violent offending.
Under Clare's Law you can:
- apply for information about your current or ex-partner because you're worried they may have a history of abuse and are a risk to you
- request information about the current or ex-partner of a friend or relative because you're worried they might be at risk
This is called the ‘right to ask.’ You have a right to ask the police no matter if your enquiry relates to a heterosexual or same-sex relationship, as long as you are aged 16 or older. You also have the right to ask about a partner regardless of your (or your neighbour, friend or family member’s) gender identity, ethnicity, race, religion or other characteristics.
You also have the ‘right to know’. This means that if police checks show that your current or ex-partner has a record of violent or abusive behaviour and they believe you may be at risk, they may decide to proactively share that information with you. If you’re worried that your current or former partner has been abusive or violent in the past, Clare’s Law formally gives you the right to find out.
To make an application under Clare's Law, search for this term on your local police force website.
If you're worried that your own behaviour within your relationship is unhealthy and want to access support to change this, you can access help from New Era, which offers behaviour change services to anyone living in Staffordshire. Support is tailored to the individual.
New Era uses programmes based on group-work including ‘Changing Direction’, ‘Healthy Relationships’ and ‘They Matter’, which are delivered using a range of evidence-based interventions. They operate over short-term to more intensive timeframes (up to 30 weeks). The specialist Out of Court Disposal Programme is also available.
You can contact New Era at 0300 373 5772 or contact behaviour-change@new-era.uk to register for this service.
If you're a Keele student and are experiencing abuse, please contact Student Services for support and advice and let us know the safest way to get in touch with you.
The external websites and guides listed in this section provide practical advice, as well as emotional support and guidance via phone and online chat functions. It might be difficult for you to speak to someone if your abuser lives in the same household; online chat offers a silent way of accessing support. Technology guidance and support is available if you’re worried your online activity is being monitored and you want to learn more about how to browse privately.
Domestic abuse helplines:
New Era (Staffordshire including Newcastle under Lyme): 0300 303 3778
Refuge 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Domestic abuse support services:
Women's Aid live chat service (available Monday to Friday, 10am-2pm) and online Survivors' Handbook
Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327
Respect helpline: 0808 802 4040 (for anyone worried that they may be harming someone else)
Galop: 0800 999 5428 (national helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people experiencing domestic abuse)
Karma Nirvana: 0800 5999 247 (for victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriage)
Forced Marriage Unit: 0207 008 0151
Paladin - National Stalking Advocacy Service: 020 3866 4107
Citizens Advice National Helpline: 03444 111 444.
Chayn: Provides support and information in multi-lingual formats
Refuge video guide to opting out of Government emergency phone alerts
