Staying safe

Devising a safety plan will allow you to think about how you can improve your safety and that of any children if further abuse occurs. It won't guarantee your safety, but could help improve it.

Your personal safety plan may include some of the following -

  • if you or your family are in immediate danger, call the police on 999, no credit is needed to call 999.
  • keep important and emergency numbers to hand
  • if appropriate, teach your children to dial 999 and what to say; their name, address and telephone number
  • if arguments occur, you should try to move to a space that is low risk. Stay away from the bathroom, kitchen, garage or anywhere else where weapons might be available. Stay in rooms with an outside exit or a window so you can yell for help
  • tell someone you can trust what is happening, and think about setting up a code word with either a friend, neighbour or family member that you can use to explain there is an emergency and you need help quickly
  • pack an emergency bag that can be left with someone that you trust. This can include -
    • some form of ID
    • Birth Certificates (for you and your children)
    • rent information
    • mortgage statement
    • NI number
    • a photocopy of documents is appropriate if it is not safe to remove the original
    • family photos
    • toys
    • money
    • clothes
    • toiletries
  • make an extra set of keys (house or car) and hide them where you can get to them if you need to
  • keep a small amount of money on you at all times. Including change for the phone or bus fare
  • find out where the nearest phone box is, always have your mobile charged and with you
  • if it is safe to do so, think about hiding a mobile phone in the home so you can call for help
  • make sure that your child knows that their priority is to always try and stay safe themselves
  • if you are planning to leave your partner, think about how you can do this as safely as possible. Sometimes this can be the most dangerous time for you. Hull DAP can help you to devise a full safety plan and offer support
  • think about e-safety such as -
    • changing your email accounts. Make it anonymous and don’t use your real name or nickname an ex-partner would recognise
    • deleting all online accounts. You don’t know which accounts your partner or ex-partner has access to
    • creating completely new, anonymous online profiles
    • changing your passwords
    • using a safe computer. Many victim and survivor's computers have had spyware or monitoring software installed
    • turning off geolocation services in camera apps and your mobile settings
    • not use apps that tell you where friends are, or ‘check you in’. If you suspect someone has put a tracking app on your mobile go through your apps and remove any suspicious ones

Sanctuary scheme

The Sanctuary Scheme is available to anyone experiencing or threatened with domestic abuse. The scheme enables victims and survivors of domestic abuse to choose to remain in their own home if this is what they want. If a victim or survivor feels compelled to move then the disruption to family and other support networks, schools, further or adult education and employment can sometimes lead to homelessness.

How the scheme works

Victims and survivors of domestic abuse who choose to remain living in their own home can have additional security measures provided for their home, this may typically include -

  • target hardening - increased security i.e. additional locks on external doors and windows
  • lifeline alarm
  • home fire safety check
  • mobile phone or sim card
  • personal safety alarm
  • home safety planning, legal measures and support

Clare's Law

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), also known as Clare’s Law, enables victims or potential victims of domestic abuse to ask the police to disclose information about their partner’s, or ex-partner’s, previous abusive or violent offending.

If police checks show that your partner has a record of violent or abusive behaviour, or there is other information to indicate that you may be at risk from your partner, the police will consider sharing this information with you. This is called the 'right to know'.

A member of the public can make an application regarding a current or ex-partner. A disclosure can also be requested by a third party to protect someone they think could be at risk. This is called the 'right to ask'. A third party can include a -

  • family member
  • friend
  • colleague
  • neighbour

You can find out more about Clare's Law on the Humberside police website.

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