Domestic Abuse
The Croydon BME Forum is working in partnership with Croydon Council, Metropolitan Police, JFC formally Family Justice Centre to raise awareness on the Croydon plan to address Domestic Abuse.
Over the last few months, Croydon has put in place measures to support victims of DA during the COVID 19. The JFC remained open throughout the lockdown and Croydon Council has been working with local chemist to give victims a place to go.
The BME Forum has been put on a series of Zoom events to raise awareness and to support organisation that works with victims of Domestic Violence and individuals.
Domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual Violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. Domestic Abuse can happen between a man and women, women to a man or within same-sex relationships.
Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:
Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and power with the use or threat of physical or Sexual Violence)
- Psychological and emotional abuse
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Financial or economic abuse
- Harassment and stalking
- Forced marriage
- Online or digital abuse
Domestic Abuse affects people of every class, age, race, disability, gender and sexuality.
The Violence can begin at any stage of a relationship and may continue after the relationship has ended.
Domestic Abuse can happen in many different ways, for example:
Physical – hitting, punching, kicking, pushing, slapping
Emotional – threatening to hurt the other person, doing and sayings things to frighten the other person, swearing at them or saying things to make them feel bad
Sexual – doing or making someone do sexual things that they don’t want to
Financial – taking away the other person’s money, not giving the other person money when they need it or not letting them get a job
If you live in a home where there is domestic Violence, you may be feeling frightened and worried about yourself and your family. You need to know that it is not your fault for what is happening. It would be best if you told someone you trust about what is happening. In an emergency, you should call the police on 999.
If Domestic Abuse is happening within your family, you can contact the Croydon FJC – it is open for drop-in and appointments every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am – 4 pm. You can call the helpline on 0208 688 0100. Email: [email protected]