Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence

Domestic and sexual, abuse and violence is not acceptable. If you or someone you know is a victim, report it and get help.

If you are in immediate danger

If you are in danger in your home, please leave and seek help. Call 999 in an emergency.

If you need urgent police help through the 999 service but cannot speak

Call 999, you will be connected to a phone operator who will ask which service you need.

On a mobile:

  • if you can’t speak but the operator hears something suspicious, they’ll connect you to a police call handler
  • if you can make some noise, whispering for example, the operator will connect you to the police

On a landline phone:

  • if you cannot speak and the operator can hear only background noise, they’ll connect your call to the police

If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment 

You can find out how to make contact with Devon and Cornwall Police if you are deaf, hard of hearing or have any speech impairment on their website. 

Local support on Scilly 

If there is no immediate danger you can call 101 and ask the local police officer to contact you. Alternatively you can also disclose domestic abuse and sexual violence to many other agencies locally, including your GP, midwife, health visitor, teacher, social workers (Adults or Children’s), housing department and pharmacy staff. Disclosures will remain confidential unless it is necessary for us to share a disclosure with other professionals in order to adequately safeguard the victims. You will always be notified of this.

Council services contact numbers:

Adult Social Care: 01720 424 470

Children’s Social Care: 01720 424 483

Housing: 01720 424 440

if your query is urgent but out of hours then you can ask the duty worker to call you back by calling Park House on: 01720 422 699

Council tenants

If you’re a council tenant, we can:

  • repair damage caused by domestic violence
  • give advice and help with the security of your home, such as changing the locks
  • give housing, benefits and money advice
  • give details of support organisations and help you contact them

Contact the Housing Service:

Housing benefit

If you move to temporary housing because of domestic violence, you might be able to claim housing benefit for both properties. Please contact the housing office who will be able to advise on this.

Different types of abuse

Abuse and violence can be psychological, physical, financial or emotional. It can include:

  • domestic abuse
  • domestic violence
  • Financial control, for example, not having access to your own money, having to ask for money or having your money taken away from you.
  • control, for example, not being allowed to go where you want, when you want
  • coercion, for example, being forced to do things you don’t want to do
  • female genital mutilation (FGM)
  • forced marriage
  • sex work or prostitution
  • sexual violence
  • sexual harassment

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone regardless of gender, age, race, background, disability, sexuality or type of relationship.

Report it

Violence or abuse is a crime and should be reported to the police.

You must:

  • call 999 if a crime is happening now or someone is in immediate danger
  • call 101 to file a report in a non-emergency situation

Getting support

There are many organisations available to you who can offer support and advice, with tailored services for you depending on the type of violence or abuse.

Safer Futures

Safer Futures is a domestic abuse service in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which offers compassionate, non-judgmental help and support to anyone, of any age or gender, affected by domestic abuse.

As of 1 April 2026, it is now delivered by a new partnership of local charities, led by Barnardo’s and Women’s Centre Cornwall.

Call: 01208 229922.

Find out more about Safer Futures, including information about their SUsie Programme for adults who have left an abusive relationship and feel ready to focus on their future, on their website at the following link:
saferfutures.org.uk

National Domestic Abuse Helpline 

National Domestic Abuse Helpline is run by Refuge the UK's largest specialist abuse organisation. It enables those experiencing domestic abuse to talk confidentially to someone about their situation and find out what their options are.

Freephone: 0808 2000 247. The phone line is open 24 hours day and 7 days a week.

Find out more about the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on their website at the following link:
nationaldahelpline.org.uk

Support for women

The Woman’s Centre Cornwall 

The Women’s Centre Cornwall is a women’s charity with services across South West England offering empowering support to women and girls living with the impact of sexual and domestic abuse.

When you call the Woman's Centre Cornwall Helpline, a specially-trained woman will answer your call. She will listen to you, respect you and give you space to talk about how you are feeling, appreciating the courage it has taken you to pick up the phone.

Call: 01208 77099

Find out more about the The Women's Centre Cornwall on their website at the following link:
womenscentrecornwall.org.uk

Support for men and boys

Men's Advice Line

Men's Advice Line is here to support men affected by domestic abuse.

Freephone: 0808 8010327

Find out more about Men's Advice Line on their website at the following link:
mensadviceline.org.uk

Mankind

Mankind supports male victims of domestic abuse.

Freephone: 0808 800 1170 (will not show on your bills)

Find out more about Mankind on their website at the following link:
mankind.org.uk

Support for children and young people

If you or someone else in your family is being hurt at home, you can tell a teacher, a social worker, a neighbour, a friend, a friend's parent or the police. Domestic abuse isn’t your fault.

Childline 

Childline is a free, private and confidential service for anyone under 19 in the UK to get support with any issue they’re going through, either over the phone or online. They won't tell anyone else you’re calling unless you’re in immediate danger.

The Childline Service is provided by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)  

Freephone: 0800 1111 (calls to Childline won’t show up on most phone bills, but may still show up on your call logs). 

Find out more about Childline, including other ways to contact them and how to keep this contact private, on their website at the following link:
childline.org.uk

Support for victims of sexual abuse and violence

Devon, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) 

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) offer practical, medical and emotional support to everyone, regardless of age or gender. In this region this service is provided by North Devon Healthcare Trust.

Helpline: 0300 3034626

Find out more about Devon, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sexual Assault Referral Centres on their website at the following link:
sarchelp.co.uk

If you’re in a same-sex relationship

If you’re in a same-sex relationship, you can also contact Galop, the national LGBT+ Domestic Violence Helpline.

Call: 0800 999 5428 

Find out more about Galop on their website at the following link:
galop.org.uk

If you're a victim of honour-based violence or forced marriage

There are organisations that can help you if you’re experiencing honour-based violence:

Karma Nirvana

Karma Nirvana is a specialist charity for victims and survivors of honour based abuse. 

Freephone: 0800 5999 247

Find out more about Karma Nirvana on their website at the following link:
karmanirvana.org.uk

Halo Project

The Halo Project offers support to women and girls experiencing or at risk of domestic and sexual abuse and violence. 

 Call: 01642 683 045

Find out more about the Halo Project on their website at the following link:
haloproject.org.uk

True Honour

    True Honour offers support to survivors of Honour Based Violence (HBV), Forced Marriage (FM) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and pledges to help all victims of abuse, however they can.

    Find out more about True Honour on their website at the following link:
    truehonour.org.uk

    Sources of emotional support for all

    Whatever you're going through, The Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to listen and give emotional support

    Freephone: 116 123 

    Find out more about The Samaritans on their website at the following link:
    samaritans.org

    AttachmentSize
    PDF icon Domestic abuse and sexual violence policy and housing pathway.pdf180.92 KB