Know the signs
Family and domestic violence can happen to anyone. It canoccur early in the relationship, or it may take months or even years to appear.
Abuse can also be inflicted by a family member or carer. There are generally warning signs or red flags a perpetratormay exhibit at any time in the relationship and not all domestic abuse is physical.
Coercive control is any act or pattern of behaviour thatincludes assaults, threats, humiliation, intimidation and may include:
- Isolating you from family and friends.
- Degradation- embarrassing or shaming you.
- Verbal abuse: shouting, mocking, accusing, name calling and verbally threatening.
- Controlling all the financial decisions
- Jealously and possessiveness
- Controlling your body – what you wear, eat and drink or forcing you to engage in sexual activity
- Restricting autonomy – restricting access to transport, hiding your mobile or laptop or changing passwords on your online accounts
- Threats – using physical size to intimidate, destroying your possessions, breaking things, or threatening to harm or kill you, or the children
- Physicalviolence - punching, slapping, hitting, biting, pinching, pushing, shoving, orstrangling