Domestic abuse
What can victims do to get ready to escape?
People wishing to leave an abusive relationship should start planning how they will keep themselves and any children safe.
Where it is safe and practical to do so, store emergency clothes, money, special children's toys, addresses and telephone numbers and duplicate car keys with someone trustworthy.
Plan how to contact emergency help at any time. This may even include agreeing signals with a neighbour where using a telephone is not possible.
Find out about legal and housing rights, a solicitor, citizen’s advice bureau or the helpline numbers given above will be able to help with this. Keep copies of important papers (passports, birth certificates, court orders, marriage certificate) in a safe place.
Where possible carry a list of emergency numbers, such as the police, relatives, friends, and refuge details. Make calls from a phone box or a friend's house and report any injuries to a GP so there is a record of the abuse.
Talk to family and friends about staying with them in an emergency and think about escape routes.
Whether or not the victim decides to leave their abuser, the contacts given above will help. They can assist in planning how to leave in an emergency and how to find a place of safety.