Domestic violence
It's not easy to accept that someone you love can behave aggressively. If you believe you are a victim of domestic abuse, we can help.
Domestic violence is violence - not necessarily only physical but also emotional, financial or sexual - between people who are or have been in an intimate relationship or are family members.
Figures show that domestic violence seems to occur mostly towards women from men, but it can also happen towards men. Domestic violence can occur in any relationship regardless of age, sex, class, race or disability.
In the York and Selby area we received over 2,700 reports of domestic violence in 2007. In Richmondshire and Hambleton there were over 600 reports. In over half of these cases there were children present in the house when the incident occurred. Nationwide, one in four women in the UK will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
If you are frightened of your partner, or he or she is violent, you can contact us. We have specially trained officers who can offer you help and support.
You should report any assaults or acts of violence to us so that action can be taken against your partner. However, we are aware that speaking out about domestic violence can be very frightening so we will do our utmost to ensure that we provide all the help and support you require from the initial arrest through to any possible court proceedings.
If you believe you are a victim, there are many people who can help you. There are many organisations in York and North Yorkshire that specialise in helping victims of domestic violence - in particular, Independent Domestic Abuse Services.
You should always remember that what is happening to you is not your fault and that help is always available. If your safety is under immediate threat, please dial 999 and ask for police. If you are not in any immediate danger, dial the police non-emergency number on 101. You can also ring IDAS on 01904 646 630 or the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Please remember that people with access to your computer might be able to view that you have visited this website. If you are concerned about this happening, you can follow our simple instructions to hide your visit.