What is Abuse/Report Abuse

Definition of Abuse

What can you do?

No one should have to live with abuse. Tell someone, you may be the only person who can stop it. Care enough to say something.

Tell someone as soon as you can. Use the contact numbers above to report abuse and/or to ask for advice.

What do we mean by adult abuse?

Abuse is when someone does or says something that hurts, upsets or frightens another person and that person isn’t able to stop it happening. It might happen on purpose or the person doing it might not realise it is wrong or causing harm, but both are still wrong and it should not happen. If you think something is wrong, talk to someone.

Abuse can be caused by anyone:

• A partner or relative
• A friend or neighbour. Sometimes a person can pretend to be a friend so they can abuse a person, this is called Mate Crime
• A carer, this can be someone who is paid or a volunteer
• Someone in a position of trust
• A stranger

There are different kinds of abuse:

Physical abuse is when someone physically hurts another person. It could include:

• hitting , slapping, kicking, shaking or pushing
• force feeding
• misusing medication
• throwing things at someone

Financial or material abuse is when someone takes something that belongs to someone else without asking or makes that person give them things. It is when someone does not let another person use their money how they want to use it. It can include:

• internet scamming
• fraud
• misuse of property, possessions or benefits
• pressure or control with financial affairs or wills

Neglect is when a person does not get the help they need and their medical, emotional or physical care needs are ignored. It could include:

• being left alone when the person doesn’t want to be
• being left hungry or thirsty
• not getting help with medication
• not seeing a doctor when the person wants to
• not being helped with personal care or using the toilet
• failure to provide educational services

Sexual abuse is when someone is made to do sexual things that makes them feel sad, angry, frightened or they don’t like or understand. It can include:

• unwanted touching
• rape
• sexual assault
• sexual acts that a person has not given consent to or was pressured into consenting
• pressure to look at sexual images
• when someone talks about sex to a person when they don’t want them to
• being subject to sexual innuendo or harassment

Psychological or emotional abuse is when someone is made to feel sad, afraid or not important. It can happen anywhere including on the internet or phone.   It can include:

• calling names, verbal abuse
• being made fun of, humiliated
• blaming a person for things that are not their fault
• ignoring or depriving
• threats or intimidation
• controlling
• cyber bullying

Discriminatory abuse is when someone is treated badly because they are seen as different to others, this is sometimes called Hate Crime and can include:

• racism
• sexism- sexuality or gender identity
• abuse related to the way someone talks, their religion or age
• acts based on a person’s disability
• harassment

Modern Slavery is when someone is forced to work with little or no pay, or threatened with violence if they do not work. It can include:

• human trafficking
• forced labour
• domestic servitude

Domestic violence and abuse is any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. It usually happens in a person’s own home and it could include:

• psychological
• physical
• sexual
• financial abuse
• what is known as ‘honour’ based violence

Self-neglect is when someone might come to harm if they do not look after themselves. It covers a wide range of behaviours where a person fails to care for their own personal hygiene, physical or emotional health or surroundings and it could include:

• not getting enough food, water or heat
• not taking medication or getting medical care that is needed
• not accepting help or support that is necessary to stay safe
• not looking after personal hygiene
• unsafe, hazardous living condition
• hoarding

Organisational abuse is abuse caused by an organisation and is abuse or neglect of an adult by people in a setting or service where the adult is living or using; for example, a care home, hospital or service provided in a person’s own home. It could include:

• neglect
• poor practice
• mistreatment of a regime