Module 2 - What is Domestic Abuse

What is Domestic Abuse?

Moduel 1 and watching the DAAWN awareness videos, would have given you an overview of what domestic abuse is and the different types of abuse.

In this module we look at this in a bit more detail.

Domestic abuse is defined as abusive behaviour which takes place between two people aged 16 or over who are personally connected to each other.

Personally connected means people who are (or who have previously been) married, in civil partnerships or in relationships, or have a child together. Personally connected also means other family members (parents, children, including adult children and siblings) and the wider extended family such as aunts, uncles, grandparents and in-laws.

The full legal definition is in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. If you want to read the legislation you can do so using the link below but it not required as part of the this training and is not included in the assessment.

there is also some statutory guidance produced by the government that you can read Domestic Abuse Statutory Guidance

The Domestic Abuse Act confirms that abusive behaviour covers a wide range of abuse and could be any of the following:

• physical abuse
• sexual abuse;
• violent or threatening behaviour;
• controlling or coercive behaviour;
• economic abuse which is behaviour that has a substantial adverse effect someone’s ability to acquire, use or maintain money or other property, or obtain goods or services.
• psychological, emotional or other abuse;

and it does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct.

We will look in more detail about the different types of abuse in Module 3.

It is also important to recognise that abuse can affect anyone from any background including races, age, religion, gender identities, sexual orientation, and social classes, and people living with disabilities, whatever their role or seniority.

Numbers

The numbers around domestic abuse are shocking. 

As stated in the business leaders video domestic abuse accounts for 2 in 10 reported crimes in the UK.  

In

The Law:

Definition