Here in the UK, Priti Patel has said the Home Office is working with charities to provide an extra £2m for domestic abuse helplines and online support.

She also said victims could “disregard orders to stay at home if they need to seek immediate refuge.”

There are many forms of abuse – and it is not always physical.

Warning signs can include (but are not limited to) the following:

Your partner constantly criticises, humiliates or belittles you
Your partner checks up on you or follows you
Your partner tries to keep you from seeing your friends or family
Your partner has prevented you or made it hard for you to continue studying or going to work
Your partner unjustly accuses you of flirting or having affairs with others
Your partner has forced you to do something that you really did not want to do
Your partner has deliberately destroyed any of your possessions
You have changed your behaviour because you are afraid of what your partner might do or say to you
Your partner controls your finances
Your partner talks down to you
Your partner has strong opinions on what you should wear and your appearance
Your partner has tried to prevent you from leaving your house
Your partner has forced you or harassed you into performing a sexual act
Your partner has threatened to reveal or publish private information
Your partner threatens to hurt him or herself if you leave them
Your partner witholds medication from you
Your partner makes you feel guilty all the time
Your partner blames you for their bad moods and outbursts
You are afraid of your partner

If you are worried that you might be the victim of abuse, it’s quite likely that you are. If these signs of an abusive relationship sound all too familiar to you, then seek help as soon as possible.

If you have suffered from domestic abuse of any kind, visit Refuge for support and information. You can also contact Women’s Aid, or call the 24 Hour Freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline, run by Refuge and Women’s Aid, on 0808 2000 247.

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