Liverpool City Council - domestic violence

Main Content

 

Domestic violence

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is the physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and/or economic abuse of one person by another who is in, or has been in, a relationship with them.

The relationship may be between partners, ex-partners, or other family members. Children involved also suffer direct or indirect harm.

Domestic violence is mainly perpetrated by men towards women. This is not to deny the existence of violence toward men or that women abuse. It is acknowledged that domestic violence occurs between same sex partners.

Domestic violence occurs in all classes and communities. Certain groups face additional barriers and discrimination when trying to access services.

Abuse can take many forms including:

  • Physical - pushing; shoving; beating; burning; strangling; kicking; stabbing; killing.
  • Sexual - sexual degradation; rape; forced and unwanted sexual practices.
  • Psychological - complete control of the person's life; threats to kill the person or the children; enforced social isolation; verbal abuse and threats; constant criticism; sleep deprivation.
  • Financial - taking money from the person; denying them money for themselves and/or the children.


WE CAN HELP - What we can do to help you

We want to hear from you if you have suffered from domestic violence. 

Our fully trained operators offer a confidential service and can help you be put in touch with organisations who are best suited to deal with your situation.  Specialist workers are also on hand to help.

We are a member of Language Line and can arrange interpreters in different languages.


How you can report an incident:

Contact us by:

We can help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In an emergency dial 999


You can also get help and advice from:

  • Liverpool Women's and Children's Aid:   0151 727 1355
  • Amadudu:   0151 734 0083
  • NSPCC (National):  0800 800 5000
  • Merseyside Police Liverpool North Domestic Violence Unit:   0151 777 4586
  • Merseyside Police Liverpool South Domestic Violence Unit:   0151 777 5085   
  • Worst Kept Secret:   0800 028 3398
  • Fire in Ice:   0151 707 2614 (men only)
  • Age Concern:   0151 330 5678
  • Irish Community Care:   0151 707 4302
  • RASA:   0151 666 1392
  • Speke Garston Domestic Violence Project:   0151 486 3999 or 0800 083 7114 (freephone)
  • Victim Support - South: 0151 727 2710
  • Victim Support - North:   0151 298 2848
  • Homeless Families:   0151 233 3027
  • Housing Advice:   0151 233 3000
  • Armistead:  227 1893 (for same sex relationships)

The Freedom Programme is currently available for women and will be available for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered communities shortly.  The women's programme contact is: D/Insp Gary Williams, FSU Lower Police Station, Lower Lane, Liverpool, L9 6DS.  Tel: 0151 777 4581

Supporting People Programme
In April 2003 the Supporting People programme was introduced, by the government, to help vulnerable people to live independently.  The programme delivers high quality and planned housing-related services such as support to pay household bills, including rent; making sure that homes are secure and personal safety is upheld; helping with benefit claims and filling in forms and supporting people to take control of their own home and look after their own money.  

Many people may need housing related support either to make it possible for them to remain safely in their own homes, or to support them if they are forced to move to alternative accommodation.  If you want to know more about the Supporting People programme and if this may be something you are entitled to then please contact Careline on 0151 233 3800 or email  wecanhelp@liverpool.gov.uk 

For further information on the Supporting People programme nationally visit www.spkweb.org.uk  or to download a general information leaflet for service users in Liverpool: Guide to Supporting People for Service Users (PDF [90.6Kb] opens in new window).

Useful websites

Take a look at our children's leaflet (PDF [167.6Kb] opens in new window)

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader from our help pages.  Additional tools to help those reading a pdf document with a screen reader can also be found there.