What is Abuse?

Abuse is the attempt to control someone using fear, violence or intimidation.

Abuse comes in many forms and does not exist in isolation - many forms of abuse are interconnected and overlap.

Physical Abuse

• Punching, kicking, shoving or dragging
• Slapping, biting or pulling your hair
• Holding you against your will
• Using a weapon or other objects to threaten or hurt you

Emotional Abuse

• Threatening to take your children away from you
• Threatening to commit suicide or murder
• Threatening to withdraw immigration sponsorship or to have you deported
• Controlling your time, what you do, how you dress and how you wear your hair
• Always swearing at you, calling you crazy, fat, dumb and stupid

Sexual Abuse

• Not letting you say “no” to sex
• Unwanted touching
• Rape
• Sexual Harassment
• Forcing someone to watch pornography

Financial Abuse

• Controlling how you spend money, where you work
• Spending all family money including your money or savings
• Using credit cards without your permission; destroying your credit rating
• Forcing you to turn over your benefit payments
• Forcing you to account for every penny