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Domestic abuse
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If you need to leave your home immediately
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, hate crime or harassment
and need to leave your home immediately, you can:
- go to Riverside One during office hours where we have
a dedicated Independent Domestic Abuse Advisor (this is only
available on Mondays and Thursdays, 9am to 12noon by appointment
only);
- contact the Citizens Advice Bureau;
- phone the Emergency Out of Hours Number: 01634
304400;
- contact the police or
go to the nearest police station.
- attend Domestic Abuse drop in at Sunlight Centre, Richmond Road
on Tuesday 9.30am to 12.30pm
For less urgent or longer term security advice and assistance,
either contact us or contact the Crime Reduction Unit
on 01634 792336
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse is any incident or threatening behaviour, or
abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional)
between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family
members regardless of gender or sexuality.
Abuse can include:
- forced marriage;
- dowry-related abuse;
- female genital mutilation;
- honour-based domestic abuse;
- disability hate crime.
Medway Council believes that no one should live in a home where
they fear domestic abuse and ensures that victims of domestic abuse will be
aware of services that can help and will be supported as they
choose to leave abusive relationships.
People who experience domestic abuse are one of the groups of
households who may be at particular risk to homelessness, if they
decide to break the cycle of abuse and leave an abusive
relationship.
The facts
- Domestic abuse accounts for 16 per cent of abuse and violent
incidents in the UK.
- One in four women and one in six men have been a victim of
domestic abuse or violence since the age of 16.
- Domestic abuse has more repeat victims than any other
crime.
- 89 per cent of those suffering four or more attacks are
women.
- On average, domestic abuse claims the lives of two women each
week and 30 men each year.
- 75 per cent of children on the child protection register are
living with domestic abuse.
Are you a woman in need of advice and support?
Women and children fleeing domestic abuse are vulnerable. As
well as you needing a roof over your head, you need time and
guidance for the future. Casa Support can offer you this, from crisis to
resettlement as well as giving you valuable peace of mind for
outside referring agencies.
Are you a man in need of advice and support?
The Mankind Initiative is a charity
providing help and information for you. The helpline is manned by
trained people who can give you information and support on all
aspects of domestic abuse.
Mankind refers people to refuges, local authorities and other
support services where appropriate. To contact them phone
01823 334244.
The Sanctuary Scheme
If the abusive person no longer lives with you, The Sanctuary
Scheme can help make your home safer and more secure so you
can continue to live there independently.
The scheme is for people who could become homeless because of
domestic abuse, violence or hate crime. It helps to stay living in
your home, and to feel safer by fitting free security measures. It
doesn’t matter what type of housing you live in: Council, Housing
Association, renting from a private landlord (in certain
circumstances), or a home you own.
For more information on the Sanctuary Scheme please contact:
Home Improvement Agency, Family Mosaic, Empire House, Sunderland
Quay, Rochester ME2 4HN
Phone: 0845 6015471
Email: sanctuary.medway@familymosaic.co.uk
How to get help with getting the abusive person out
We can support you take legal action to stop the abusive person
and to get them out of your home.
You can get support and help from other organisations to take
legal action to remove the person
Our Independent Domestic Abuse Advisor based at Riverside One contact
point can help you through legal action against the abusive
person, giving you support, listening to concerns, explaining
proceedings, discussing choices and helping deal with the police or
solicitors.
They can advise you about a safety plan, such as having
somewhere safe to stay during legal action.
Sunlight Centre Domestic Abuse drop in every Tuesday from
09:30am to 12noon. Several agencies attend including Women's
Support Services, Police Domestic Abuse Unit, Housing and Legal Aid
advisors.
Useful contacts
The Hideout
Women's Aid has created The Hideout to
help children and young people to understand domestic abuse,
and how to take positive action if it's happening to you.
- 24-hour Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000
247
- Victim Support: 01634 401733
- 24-hour Refuge Helpline: 0808 808 9999
Medway Domestic Abuse Forum
57 Romsey Close, Strood, Kent ME2 3TJ
Phone: 01634 724365
Email: medwaydaf@aol.com
Dartford Group Fire Safety Office
Dartford Fire Station, Watling Street, Dartford, Kent DA2
6EG
Phone: 01622 203903 (or 999 in an
emergency)
Women’s Support Services
Maidstone Community Support Centre, Marsham Street, Maidstone,
Kent ME14 1HH
Phone: 01622 761146
Medway Council Community Safety Partnership
Eastbridge, Purser Way, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1NE
Phone: 01634
338131
Visit the Medway Council Community Safety
Partnership page.
Medway Police Station
Purser Way, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1NE
Opening hours: 8am-8pm Monday
Saturday, 8am-6pm Sundays
Phone: 01634 891055
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