Domestic Violence

 

What is domestic violence?

We define domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer. I t is very common.  In the vast majority of cases it is experienced by women and is perpetrated by men, but this is not always the case. 

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

    • Physical abuse
    • Psychological and/or emotional abuse
    • Coercive control
    • Financial and economic abuse
    • exual abuse
    • Tech abuse
    • Harassment and stalking

Belfast & Lisburn Women's Aid – Working to end domestic violence

Domestic Abuse | PSNI

Domestic abuse and sexual violence support | Belfast Health & Social Care Trust website

Page last reviewed: 29 January 2026
Page created: 29 January 2026