If your abuser suspects you are thinking about leaving you may be in danger so please consider your safety at all times.

The most important step you can take to protect yourself and your children from abuse is to build an escape plan. Since you know your abuser's actions and behaviour, you can use this knowledge and build a plan.

  • Make sure you know your way around indoors.
  • Keep external and internal doors clear and uncluttered in case you need to run.
  • If you are aware that a situation is becoming violent, try to keep out of the kitchen or anywhere where there may be objects that can be used as weapons.
  • Keep away from rooms that can be locked.
  • Keep away from the bathroom.
  • Know exactly where you are heading if you leave the building - a neighbour for example.
  • Teach the children to dial 999 and to give their names and the address of where you are.
  • If you trust them, ask your neighbours to call the police if they hear you calling for help or sounds of violence in your home

You might think the above isn't necessary. In the UK On average, 2 women a week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales and for men, the figure is approx 1 per month.