Domestic Abuse

Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, domestic abuse is behaviour by one person towards another where both people are aged 16 or over, are personally connected ( including current or former intimate partners, family members, spouses, civil partners, or people who share parental responsibility for a child), and the behaviour is abusive. Abuse may consist of a single incident or a pattern of behaviour, and can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, or background.

Reporting domestic abuse

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you can report it to the police by calling 101 for non-emergency situations or 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. You may also wish to speak to a trusted family member, friend, neighbour, support worker, or healthcare professional. 

South Yorkshire Police take all reports of domestic abuse seriously, and will assess the level of risk and support required to help keep victims and their families safe.

⚠ If you are in immediate danger, dial 999.

If you can’t speak, listen to the operator and cough, or press the keys on your phone. You will be asked to press 55. This is known as the ‘Silent Solution’, and it will be known that your call is an emergency.

Rotherham

Rotherham has a range of domestic abuse services that offer support for women, children, young people, and men who are experiencing domestic abuse. They offer:

• One to one support
• Support groups
• Advice on staying safe at home
• Access to safe places and refuges
• Financial advice
• Legal advice
• Housing advice
• Advice about supporting children

Hopian works in partnership with the council to offer outreach support to survivors of domestic abuse.

Hopian operates a helpline, for individuals and professionals in Rotherham, that can be accessed by calling 0330 2020 571, offering information, safety advice and signposting for support.

Report domestic abuse by calling Hopian on 0330 2020 571.

There is a wealth of information and advice accessible through Hopian’s website, and navigation to the right advice is assisted by a web bot, which has been developed with people who use the service.

All referrals for Domestic Abuse Support should be sent to Hopian at help@hopian.org.uk, who will carry out an assessment and support people along the pathway to the right service, including the Council’s Domestic Abuse Assertive Outreach Team.

Sheffield

IDAS provide the community based Sheffield Domestic abuse service. There is a range of services for all victims (women and men) of domestic abuse and sexual violence, who are aged 16 years and over.

The Sheffield Domestic Abuse Helpline, provided by IDAS, offers free local support and information 7 days a week on 0808 808 2241. The helpline offers:

• Advice, support and safety for people experiencing domestic and sexual abuse/harassment
• Advice and support on keeping yourself safe.
• A service to women, men, children, young people, practitioners and worried family members
• Up-to-date access to services in Sheffield and available refuge spaces

IDAS also operate an IDAS online chat facility – this is available everyday between 1pm and 6pm at the IDAS website

In addition to the IDAS helpline and live chat facility the service offers a range of services which includes:

• A holistic assessment to identify your support needs and risk of domestic abuse.
• Safety planning & crisis intervention
• IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy) support and advocacy at the MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference)
• Community based 1:1 support and safety planning.
• Group programmes to help you overcome the harmful impacts of abuse.
• Support if you are going through criminal or civil proceedings.
• Practical support and advice; including housing, benefits, legal services, schools.
• Help to secure your home via our Sanctuary /Target Hardening scheme.
• Using a multi-agency approach with both statutory and non-statutory organisations to provide support, this may include referral to or sign posting to other agencies; BME services, mental health, drugs and alcohol, counselling, housing, advice centres and legal services.

All staff are trained to deliver specialist support, working in partnership with multiple agencies and the service user, with the aim of increasing the safety of the individual and their dependents.

You can talk to us about the abuse and work through which services might work best for you with an experienced helpline worker.