When people hear the words “domestic abuse”, they may immediately think of physical violence. But domestic abuse can take many different forms – and some leave no visible injury at all.
October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, providing an important opportunity to increase understanding of the behaviours that can amount to abuse and the legal protections that may be available.
Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, domestic abuse can include physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse and psychological or emotional abuse. It can consist of a single incident or a course of conduct.
Recognising domestic abuse is not always straightforward, particularly where controlling behaviour has developed gradually during a relationship.
What is controlling or coercive behaviour?
Controlling or coercive behaviour is often about power rather than one isolated incident.
It can involve monitoring someone’s everyday activities, controlling where they go or who they see, restricting access to money, demanding access to bank accounts or passwords, or using intimidation and threats to regulate another person’s behaviour.
Importantly, controlling or coercive behaviour can also continue after a relationship has ended. The law was changed so that the criminal offence can apply to ex-partners even where they are no longer living together.
Separation does not therefore necessarily mean that abuse has ended.
What is economic abuse?
Money can also be used as a means of control.
The Domestic Abuse Act expressly recognises economic abuse. This is behaviour which has a substantial adverse effect on someone’s ability to acquire, use or maintain money or other property, or obtain goods or services. In practice, economic abuse can take many forms.
Someone may control all of the household income, prevent their partner from working, restrict their access to bank accounts, run up debts in their name or make them account for every penny they spend.
Economic abuse can make it considerably harder for someone to leave a relationship because they have been deprived of the financial independence needed to do so.
Government statutory guidance also recognises that economic abuse can continue after separation.
How can domestic abuse affect children?
Children do not have to be physically assaulted themselves to be affected by domestic abuse.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 expressly recognises children as victims in their own right where they see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse and are related to, or under the care of, the victim or perpetrator.
Domestic abuse can therefore be highly relevant when parents separate and arrangements need to be made for their children.
Where allegations of domestic abuse arise in children proceedings, the Family Court must consider those issues when determining what arrangements are safe and in the child’s welfare interests.
What protection can the Family Court provide?
There are a number of ways in which the Family Court can provide protection from domestic abuse.
One of the most commonly used is a non-molestation order. This can prohibit an abusive person from using or threatening violence, harassing or intimidating someone or engaging in other specified behaviour.
An occupation order can regulate who is entitled to live in or enter the family home in appropriate circumstances.
There are also newer Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) being piloted in selected areas. As at October 2026, the Government says the pilot includes Greater Manchester, Croydon, Sutton and Bromley, areas of Cleveland and North Wales, with British Transport Police also participating. Outside pilot areas, other protections including non-molestation orders remain available.
The appropriate application will depend upon the circumstances and the protection required.
“But they never hit me…”
Physical violence is only one form of domestic abuse.
If someone controls your finances, isolates you from friends or family, monitors your movements, repeatedly humiliates or intimidates you, threatens you or makes you feel that you have to change your everyday behaviour to avoid their reaction, it is worth seeking advice and support.
You do not need to wait for behaviour to become physically violent before asking for help.
Domestic Abuse Awareness Month is an opportunity not only to support those experiencing abuse, but also to challenge the misconception that abuse has to leave a physical mark before it “counts”.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse and require advice about protective orders, children arrangements or separation, we can explain the legal options available to you.
You can also seek support from charities like COMPASS, Next Chapter and Changing Pathways.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. If you are unable to speak on a mobile call, you can press 55 when prompted to be transferred to the police.
