08 February 2012Domestic violence is physical, emotional and mental abuse that is carried out by one person against another, usually in an intimate relationship. Abuse includes behaviour where there is a misuse of power and control.
Sometimes a family can join together in abusing a victim, or sometimes a victim can be subject to violence by different family members. Sometimes an older child can take on the role of the abuser and physically hurt the parent who is the victim.
While most domestic violence is directed by men against women, it can occur in other relationships, and in a minority of cases, by women against men. At least one in four women will experience domestic violence during their lifetime.
The Sevenoaks District Community Safety Partnership has developed a Domestic Abuse Action Plan which will form part of the next three year Strategy and Action Plan commencing in March 2005. This Action Plan includes providing better information, raising awareness, support in the community, support for children, working with perpetrators, education and prevention as well as linking with the housing issues included in this Strategy. It identifies where agencies can work together to improve services and where other partnerships will be involved, e.g. the Domestic Abuse Forums and the Children's Consortium.
The Domestic Abuse Action Plan - April 2011 (
PDF File 163KB file details) has been informed by a District-wide audit of services as well as two conferences for key workers, survivors and decision-makers, organised by the North Kent and West Kent Domestic Abuse Forums.
Progress on the Action Plan will be monitored by the Community Safety Partnership.
For more information, advice and support contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline (24hrs) on 0800 2000 247. Below is a list of National Help lines.
Male victims
The ManKind Initiative is a charity providing help and information to male victims of domestic abuse or domestic violence. They can be contacted by calling 01823 334 244 or by e-mailing admin@mankind.org.uk.
Same sex relationships
Broken Rainbow is an organisation to assist persons in same sex relationships suffering from domestic abuse. They can be contacted on 0300 999 5428.
Ethnic Minority groups
The Minority Ethnic Counselling Service can be contacted on 01634 333880.
Refuges
Woman's Aid has a full list of refuges throughout the U.K.
For more local advice and support please contact:
Kent Police Domestic Violence Unit - 01622 690690
Sevenoaks & Swanley Social Services - 08458 247247 24hr
Sevenoaks District Council - Housing - 01732 227000
Relate Centre Outpost - 01892 529927
The Freedom Programme - 07854 780690
Spring House Family Service - 01732 465539
Kent Victim Support - 0845 3030900
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (IDSVA) - 01474 546638
North Kent Women's Aid - 0800 9179948
Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services (DAVSS) - 01892 570538 (10am to 1pm weekdays). supporting male & female's experiencing Domestic Abuse.
You can also contact your local Citizens Advice Bureaux
See also:
Direct.gov website domestic violence pages - advice and useful links
NHS Choices website - advice and useful links
Kent County Council's website's domestic violence pages
Home Office website - domestic violence pages
Women's Aid Federation website www.womensaid.org.uk
How to hide Internet activities
This information may not completely hide your tracks. The safest way to find information on the internet would be at a local library, a friend's house or at work. Please read the warnings below and take steps to increase your safety when using the internet.
E-mail
If an abuser has access to your email account, they may be able to read your incoming and outgoing mail. If you believe your account is secure, make sure you choose a password that an abuser will not be able to guess. If an abuser sends you threatening or harassing e-mail messages, they may be printed and saved as evidence of this abuse.
History/cache file
If an abuser knows how to read your computer's history or cache file (automatically saved web pages and graphics), they may be able to see information you have viewed recently on the internet. You can clear your history or empty your cache file in your browser's settings.
Internet Explorer 6 (Find your version by selecting Help in the Internet explorer and clicking About Internet Explorer)
Click on the Tools menu and select Internet Options... On the General page, under Temporary Internet Files, click on Delete Cookies and then OK. Click on Delete Files, put a tick in the box labelled Delete all offline content and click OK. Under History, click on Clear History and then OK. Now look at the top of the window and click on the Content tab, select AutoComplete and finally, Clear Forms.
