Domestic abuse

There are many forms of domestic abuse including coercive control, psychological, emotional, physical, sexual, financial, harassment, stalking, online and digital abuse.

We will believe you.

That’s the message from North Tyneside Council to reassure people that help and support is available for anyone who is experiencing, or at risk of, domestic abuse.  

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please dial 999.

If you’re worried about your safety contact the Council’s support service, Harbour my.harbour.org.uk or 0191 251 3305.

If you’re worried about someone else’s relationship such a family member, friend of colleague, contact Findaway for advice and support www.wefindaway.org.uk or 0300 140 0061.

If you’re worried about your behaviour contact the Respect phoneline respectphoneline.org.uk or 0808 802 4040.

To highlight the issue of domestic abuse and encourage victims – men or women – to seek support, the Council and its partners are taking part in 16 days of action with a range of events and awareness-raising activities.

The 16 days campaign starts on 25 November, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, known as White Ribbon Day.

For the third year running we are taking over Rising Sun parkrun with the support of These Girls can Run on Saturday 23 November at 9am.  Why not come along to an event that welcomes the whole community, and make a stand against domestic abuse? 

You don’t have to run, walkers are welcome too.  For directions, and details of how to register for your free parkrun barcode visit www.parkrun.org.uk/risingsun.

The Council is proud to be a White Ribbon accredited organisation.  White Ribbon UK works to engage men and boys in speaking out about violence against women and girls, to challenge gender stereotypes underpinning such violence and to challenge cultures that lead to harassment, abuse and violence against women.

NT Harbour Domestic Abuse Support Service

Provides refuge accommodation for women, outreach for male and female over 16 years old, an IDVA service and group work. Access to the service is 24hrs a day by telephone with face-t-face contact between the hours of 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 4pm Saturday. Telephone (0191) 251 3305, 0300 0202 525 or visit www.myharbour.org.uk

Acorns project

Counselling, support and advice for children and young people, aged 4 - 18years old, who have experienced domestic abuse. Telephone (0191) 349 8366 (office hours only) or visit www.acornsproject.org.uk

Northumbria Victim Services

Support and advice to victims of crime throughout Northumbria. Telephone 0800 011 3116 or visit nvws.northumbria.police.uk

Police

The police can take action against an abuser and give advice on home security and other matters. In an emergency ring 999, at other times ring 101 and ask for the crime desk or visit www.northumbria.police.uk

Housing

For housing advice and help with re-housing contact a customer service centre in person or by phone during office hours. You can ask for an appointment to see either a female or male officer in private if you wish. For emergency accommodation (out of hours) telephone 0330 333 7475.

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland

For women who need to talk to someone about rape or sexual abuse. Telephone (0191) 222 0272 (General enquires and referrals), email support@rctn.org.uk or visit www.rctn.org.uk 

The Angelou Centre, Newcastle

The Angelou Centre is run by and for, VAWG women’s centre based in Newcastle upon Tyne, and is one of the few remaining black-led women’s organisations in the North East. The Angelou Centre offers a wide range of holistic women-only services and specialist support for Black and minoritised women and children. This includes specialist outreach, children and young people services, refuge and move on accommodation, therapeutic intervention, training and wellbeing activities. Telephone (0191) 226 0394.

The Angel Centre Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)

Confidential health care and support service after sexual assault or rape in Northumbria.  Telephone 0330 223 0099 or www.sarcnorthumbria.co.uk.

National Centre for Domestic Violence
Telephone 0844 8044 999 or visit www.ncdv.org.uk.

Women's Aid 
Telephone 0808 2000 247 (free phone 24 hour helpline) or visit www.womensaid.org.uk (live chat facility available)

Hourglass' mission is simple: end the harm, abuse and exploitation of older people in the UK. As the UK’s only charity focused on the abuse and neglect of older people, we staff a free-to-call 24/7 helpline. It’s an absolute lifeline for older men, women and their families suffering from the five forms of abuse: physical, psychological, financial, sexual or neglect. Visit www.wearehourglass.org or telephone 0808 808 8141.

Paladin is the national stalking advocacy service.  Telephone 0203 866 4107 or visit www.paladinservice.co.uk

The Men's Advice Line 
Telephone 0808 801 0327 or visit www.mensadviceline.org.uk.

Respect
Information and advice for people who are abusive towards their partners. Telephone 0808 802 4040 or visit www.respectphoneline.org.uk.

Broken Rainbow Helpline
Information and signposting to services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people experiencing domestic violence. Telephone 0800 999 5428.

Forced Marriage Unit 
Telephone 0207 008 0151 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm) or 020 7008 1500 (Out of hours, ask for the Global Response Centre).

The Hideout
The charity Women’s Aid created www.thehideout.org.uk because children and young people said they wanted more information about domestic violence that’s easy to read and understand.

Gov.uk

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, there are sources of support for specific needs and information to help with specific types of abuse https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-get-help-for-specific-needs-or-situations

Findaway

Findaway is a project that recognises that families, friends and community members are usually the first to know, and best placed to support, if someone is being controlled, scared or hurt by their partner, ex-partner or family-member.  If you’re worried someone else's relationship and would like further information or to speak to our trained advisors: www.wefindaway.org.uk hello@wefindaway.org.uk. Please see flyer below for further information.

Signhealth

Signhealth supports deaf survivors of domestic abuse, facing additional challenges due to marginalisation and reliance on their abusers. As the UK’s first deaf-led service, Signhealth provides personalised assistance, including face-to-face meetings and dedicated support workers. They help with safety plans, housing, legal guidance, and liaison with authorities https://signhealth.org.uk/with-deaf-people/domestic-abuse/

Financial Support Line

The Financial Support Line for Victims of Domestic Abuse is run by Money Advice Plus in partnership with Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA). It offers specialist advice to anyone experiencing domestic abuse who is in financial difficulty. For example, it

• gives survivors strategies for dealing with debt, including coerced debt
• discuss welfare benefit issues
• support survivors in developing a budget
• look at problems survivors may be experiencing with utility companies and other bills
• talks them through how to safely open a new bank account or work through problems they're experiencing with banking
• in some cases, signpost or refer survivors to apply for small grants if they are experiencing severe financial hardship

For further information visit survivingeconomicabuse.org/ 

Operation Encompass has been launched in North Tyneside to safeguard and support children and young people who have been involved in a domestic abuse incident.

North Tyneside Council and Northumbria Police are working with all schools in North Tyneside to make sure that school staff are made aware of an incident early enough to support children and young people.

Schools across North Tyneside will nominate two members of staff who will be known as Key Adults and receive specific training.

For more information, please visit www.operationencompass.org or contact your local school.

For information on keeping children safe and identifying the signs of domestic abuse visit the NSPCC website.

Northumberland Domestic Abuse Services (NDAS), a Northumberland based independent charity has worked with Raw Productions, to produce a powerful and emotive film that focuses on young people’s struggles with coercive and controlling relationships.

The film highlights the dangers of emotional abuse in teenage relationships. Too many young people are coerced into controlling relationships by their partners, who use their power to emotionally control every aspect of their lives.

What is CPVA?

There is currently no legal definition, however Northumbria Police define it as 'any harmful act or behaviour by a child aged 10-18 yrs, whether physical, psychological, emotional or financial, towards a parent/guardian or carer'.  CPVA may present as a single violent incident, but is more likely to be a pattern of behaviour including damage to person or property, threats, stealing from the parent, humiliation or verbal abuse. As with adult-to-adult domestic abuse, CPVA includes controlling or coercive behaviour.  CPVA is more than being a ‘stroppy teenager.

Here are some of the possible signs and indicators:

• Physical violence
• Damage to property
• Abusive to siblings
• Humiliation / belittling
• Theft from parent/family
• Threats to use weapons
• Obsessive use of violent games
• Disengagement from education / school refusal
• Parent fearful of child
• Substance Misuse
• Self harm / suicidal thoughts

For further information and support please visit here.

The North Tyneside Domestic Abuse Partnership has primary responsibility for tackling the issue of domestic abuse and for developing and implementing the North Tyneside Domestic Abuse Strategy.

However, domestic abuse is such a complex social issue that success in reducing incidents and effectively supporting victims and survivors will only be achieved with the collective ownership and joined-up efforts of all key stakeholders and services with a responsibility for crime prevention, health, social care and family support.

The Domestic Abuse Strategy sets out how we can help people and communities in North Tyneside become free from the harm of domestic abuse and violence.

The strategy reflects the breadth of commitment from all local stakeholders to tackle domestic abuse, recognising that it is everyone’s business. It informs our commissioning approach, our allocation of resources and our workforce development activities to increase the effectiveness of our work and improve the lives of residents.

Domestic abuse is a cruel and complex crime that can affect anyone. The strategy will help our partners drive forward progress on a range of strategic issues relating to domestic abuse and its impact on families and communities here in North Tyneside.

The North Tyneside Domestic Abuse Strategy sets out how we can help people and communities in North Tyneside become free from the harm of domestic abuse and violence.

This three year strategy reflects the breadth of commitment from all local stakeholders to tackle domestic abuse, recognising that it is everyone’s business.

“Domestic abuse is an abhorrent crime perpetrated on victims and their families by those who should love and care for them. This landmark Bill will help transform the response to domestic abuse, helping to prevent offending, protect victims and ensure they have the support they need.” Victoria Atkins MP, Minister for Safeguarding

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 became Law in April 2021, and with it a number of changes were required across the UK in how we respond and treat cases of Domestic Abuse. North Tyneside Council and the wider partnership have worked together to ensure the new duties as set out by the Act are implemented appropriately and efficiently.

This video is a two minute overview of the changes brought about by the legislation and the actions taken to implement these. Further information is available in the Seven Minute Guide to the Domestic Abuse Act below.

North Tyneside has a well established Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) process.

Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference’s (MARAC) are recognised nationally as best practice for addressing cases of domestic abuse that are categorised as high risk. A MARAC allows agencies to identify the high risk domestic abuse cases and for the identified risk to be managed through a multi-agency forum.

Further information can be found at www.safelives.org.uk.

There is a specific Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment for North Tyneside.  The Domestic Abuse Act passed in 2021, provides the first statutory definition of domestic abuse.

For further information visit the JSNA webpage.

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