What is Domestic Abuse?

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of abuse:

Psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional

What is Stalking & Harassment?

This is when someone repeatedly behaves in a way that makes you feel scared, distressed or threatened. There are different types of stalking and harassment and anyone can be a victim.

Harassment, someone you know could be harassing you, like a neighbour, or people from your local area or it could be a stranger.

  • bullying at school or in the workplace
  • cyber stalking (using the internet to harass someone)
  • antisocial behaviour
  • sending abusive text messages
  • sending unwanted gifts
  • unwanted phone calls, letters, emails or visits

It’s harassment if the unwanted behaviour has happened more than once.

Sexual harassment is unlawful, as a form of discrimination, under the Equality Act 2010. The Act says it’s sexual harassment if the unwanted behaviour:

  • violates your dignity
  • creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment (this includes the digital environment, online)

Some examples of sexual harassment would include:

  • sexual comments, jokes or gestures
  • staring or leering at your body
  • using names like ’slut’ or ‘whore’
  • unwanted sexual communications, like emails, texts, DMs
  • sharing sexual photos or videos
  • groping and touching
  • someone exposing themselves
  • pressuring you to do sexual things or offering you something in exchange for sex

Some of these are also forms of sexual or indecent assault. If you’ve experienced any of these it’s not your fault and you don’t have to put up with it.

Stalking is like harassment, but it's more aggressive. The stalker will have an obsession with the person they're targeting.

Someone you know could be stalking you; an ex partner or a person you were friends with, or it might be a stranger. If it’s someone you know, or knew, it doesn’t mean that it’s your fault; it’s still stalking and it’s an offence.

Stalking may include:

  • regularly following someone
  • repeatedly going uninvited to their home
  • checking someone’s internet use, email or other electronic communication
  • hanging around somewhere they know the person often visits
  • interfering with their property
  • watching or spying on someone
  • identity theft (signing-up to services, buying things in someone’s name)

It’s stalking if the unwanted behaviour has happened more than once.

The four warning signs of stalking

If the behaviour you’re experiencing is:

Fixated
Obsessive
Unwanted
Repeated

Online Stalking & Harassment

Social networking sites, chat rooms, gaming sites and other forums are often used to stalk and harass someone, for example:

  • to get personal information
  • to communicate (calls, texts, emails, social media, creating fake accounts)
  • damaging the reputation
  • spamming and sending viruses
  • tricking other internet users into harassing or threatening
  • identity theft
  • threats to share private information, photographs, copies of messages

 

What is Controlling behaviour?

A range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour. Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.

If you can’t speak and are calling on a mobile press 55 to have your call transferred to the police.

The services listed below are both local and national services, ready to support you in the best way they can.

Compass is a partnership of domestic abuse services providing a response in Essex, but there are many services both locally and nationally to support you.

Next Chapter provide free and confidential services to support people who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced domestic abuse.  

Respect was established to focus on perpetrators of domestic abuse, and this, including  vital work with young people who cause harm, remains a key priority. Alongside this work, they deliver expert support to male victims of domestic abuse.

Whatever your age, background or sexual orientation the Change Project can help you resolve the problems in your relationships 

Galop is a national charity that supports LGBTQ+ people who are experiencing or have experienced abuse and violence. 

The 24/7 freephone National DV Helpline can provide confidential advice for women experiencing domestic abuse, or others calling on their behalf, from anywhere in the UK

National Stalking Helpline has made it a mission to reduce the risk and prevalence of abuse, aggression, and violence – with a specific focus on stalking and harassment – through education, campaigning, and support.

Our work

Each year the Partnership prepares a Strategic Assessment of Crime to assist in revising the Annual Partnership Plan and the community safety priorities for the district.

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Our Partners

The CSP, part of One Colchester, consists of organisations that are well placed to make a valuable contribution to reducing crime and disorder across Colchester.

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Contact us

The Colchester Community Safety Partnership team aim to respond to your enquiry within 5 working days.

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