Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men.

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
• Psychological and/or emotional abuse
• Physical or sexual abuse
• Financial abuse
• Harassment and stalking
• Online or digital abuse

Anybody can experience domestic abuse regardless of their race, ethnic or religious group, class, disability or any other factor. Domestic abuse can also take place in the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community.