1. Redbridge Action Against Domestic Abuse 3-5 Balfour Road Ilford Essex IG1 4DU 0208 478 3944

2. Services Practical Support Emotional Support Play Sessions for Children Therapeutic support for women and children Support groups

3. RAADA definition of domestic abuse Domestic Violence may involve physical, mental, sexual, verbal or economic abuse. It occurs within a personal or family relationship and is systematic with the aim of control. The vast majority of such abuse is perpetrated by men against their current or previous female partners (perpetrators may also be parents, in-laws, children, female partners etc). Domestic violence is a social phenomenon tolerated by and perpetuated by a male dominated society.

4. Forms of Abuse Physical Psychological Financial Sexual

5. Forms of Abuse Destructive criticism and verbal abuse: shouting/mocking/accusing/name calling/verbally threatening. Pressure tactics: sulking; threatening to withhold money, disconnect the telephone, commit suicide, take the children away; lying to her friends and family about her; telling her that she has no choice in any decisions. Disrespect: putting her down in front of other people; not listening or responding when she talks; interrupting her telephone calls; taking money from her purse without asking; refusing to help with childcare or housework. Breaking trust: lying to her; withholding information from her; being jealous; having other relationships; breaking promises and shared agreements. Isolation: monitoring or blocking her telephone calls; telling her where she can and cannot go; preventing her from seeing friends and relatives. Harassment: following her; checking up on her; opening her mail; repeatedly checking to see who has telephoned her; embarrassing her in public. Threats: making angry gestures; using physical size to intimidate; shouting her down; destroying her possessions; breaking things; punching walls; wielding a knife or a gun; threatening to kill or harm her and the children. Sexual violence: using force, threats or intimidation to make her perform sexual acts; having sex with her when she doesnt want to; any degrading treatment based on her sexual orientation. Physical violence: punching; slapping; hitting; biting; pinching; kicking; pulling hair out; pushing; shoving; burning; strangling. Denial: saying the abuse doesnt happen; saying she caused the abusive behavior; being publicly gentle and patient; crying and begging for forgiveness; saying it will never happen again.