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Domestic Violence

If you are being abused by a partner, ex-partner or family member, there are several organisations in West Oxfordshire that offer free and confidential help.

A domestic violence incident occurs every 6-20 seconds
(BCS 2000)

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
Domestic violence covers a range of situations, which may include:

Physical, sexual or psychological abuse - slapping, pushing, kicking, punching, stabbing, rape, verbal abuse, humiliation

Financial or emotional deprivation - withholding money, not allowing friends to visit or phone calls

The use or threat of using legal sanctions against a partner - threats about the custody of the children, threats of deportation

Denial of rights - denial of medical care, physical freedom

WHO IT AFFECTS
The simple answer is that domestic violence can affect anyone. While most domestic abuse is directed by men against women, it occurs in lesbian and gay relationships, and in some cases, by women against men.

At least one in four women will experience domestic violence during their lifetime.

Domestic abuse affects all members of the community, irrespective of their age, gender, social class, culture, ethnicity, sexuality, levels of education, income groups or occupation. Violence can happen at any stage during a relationship, at the beginning, after many years, or when the relationship is over.

Women aged 16-29 are more likely to be experiencing domestic violence and having children increases the risk of assault, either because of financial and emotional stress or because the woman intervenes on behalf of her children and is assaulted as a result. Perpetrators of domestic violence come from a wide range of racial, religious, or social groups.

GET HELP LOCALLY
The Community Safety Partnership funds an Outreach Service Worker specifically for victims living in West Oxfordshire.

The Outreach Service Worker helps you to:

Keep safe and talk through any issues
Sort out what support you think you might need and she helps you to get it
Explains what your options are

She will also listen and understand, without judging you on the decisions you make. She won't make the situation worse or force you to do anything you don't want to do.

Telephone the Outreach Service Worker on 01993 709 491. All calls are in total confidence.

The following services are also available:
Emergency temporary housing: 01993 705 056
Oxfordshire Women's Aid: 01865 778 400
Thames Valley Police Domestic Violence Units: 0845 8 505 505
Victim Support: 01865 751 511
National Helpline (24 hours): 0808 2000 247
Childline: 0800 1111

In an emergency, always dial 999.

IS THERE ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE?
There are websites which offer further information and advice:

Reducing the Risk - An Oxfordshire-based organisation

The Home Office website

Women's Aid Federation website

The Hideout website - support for children and young people living with domestic violence

Staying safe online
If you do not want anyone to know that you have visited this page or any other domestic violence websites, please follow the steps below to clear the computer's history:

Netscape
Pull down Edit menu, select Preferences. Click on Navigator on choose 'Clear History'. Click on Advanced then select Cache. Click on "Clear Disk Cache". On older versions of Netscape: Pull down Options menu. Select Network Options, Select Cache. Click on "Clear Disk Cache".

Internet Explorer
Pull down Tools menu, select Internet Options. On General page, under Temporary Internet Files , click on "Delete Files". Under History click on "Clear History."

AOL
Pull down Members menu, select Preferences. Click on WWW icon. Then select Advanced. Purge Cache.