Domestic violence

What is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is officially defined as "Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members".

Abuse within domestic relationships often goes unreported - surveys suggest that one in four women and around one in six men will be affected in their lifetime.

Anybody can be affected by domestic abuse - and anybody can be an abuser - irrespective of age, race, ethnicity, religion, class, disability, lifestyle or geographic location.

Abuse against anyone under 18 is classified as child abuse rather than domestic violence. Report a concern about child abuse in Buckinghamshire, or call 0845 4600001.

Information on this site

These pages contain information for you if you have suffered domestic violence, including links to local organisations that can help you immediately.

There is also information on Fresh Start, a programme to help people who have abused.

There are also links to guidance and resources for professionals who have to work with domestic abuse situations.

Click using the arrows to the right and left or the headings at the top to move through this section and see what information is available.