Help us intervene early
Call 999 or go to your local police station for immediate help if you or someone else is in danger or a crime is in progress. If you are unable to speak, 999 operators can still connect you to police. The operator will listen for background noises. Find out how to make silent 999 calls.
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Many survivors of domestic abuse access help when they are at a point of crisis. If we provide the right help earlier, we can:
- prevent domestic abuse from occurring or escalating
- improve outcomes
- save lives
If you work with people in Birmingham, then you will be working with survivors, and whatever your role, you can help us stop abuse.
Our Domestic Abuse Hub can advise you on how to find help at any stage of the support pathway.
Domestic abuse statistics
Domestic abuse accounts for 17% of calls to West Midlands Police about abuse. It is also:
- one of the leading causes of homeless presentations to the council
- the highest reason for calls to Birmingham Children’s Trust with concerns for a child
Domestic abuse is a gendered crime that is part of wider violence against women and girls, underpinned by gender inequalities in society. From 2022 to 2023, 74% of domestic abuse survivors in Birmingham were women. They are also more likely to experience repeated and severe forms of violence and be subjected to sustained physical, psychological, and emotional abuse and coercive control.
Resources to learn more
If your job means you have contact with the public, remember that domestic abuse often goes unseen. We don’t all need to be experts, but it’s important to be open to recognise domestic abuse and to know how to respond if we do.
Get familiar with your organisation’s domestic abuse training offer. If your organisation has a domestic abuse champions scheme, consider whether you can volunteer.
If you work for Birmingham City Council, make use of the guidance and resources on the domestic abuse section of the staff intranet under occupational health and wellbeing service. This includes our HR policy, information about the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance, and more details about how you can get support.
If you have concerns about someone, you might be the first person to spot the signs of abuse. Don’t be afraid to start the conversation. Offer to talk with them privately in a safe place and ask questions without judging or assuming.
Keep in mind that domestic abuse is about control, and what survivors have done to keep themselves (and their children) safe may not be immediately obvious.
Find out more about common misconceptions around abuse to help you avoid victim-blaming or enabling the perpetrator.
Survivors may seem resistant or indecisive. Remember that they may have experienced gaslighting, trauma and lack of control, or be considering factors that you are not aware of. They may decide that it is not the right time to get support or leave. It is important not to force this or judge them for making this decision.
Help them to know they are not alone and to know where to access specialist support when they are ready.
However, if you have reason to believe that someone is in immediate danger, then you can call the police, or encourage them to call the police if they are able to do so.
