Domestic abuse is any threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people aged 16 or over who share a personal connection. It can be a single incident or a pattern of incidents. Personal connections include relatives and current or former intimate partners.

Domestic abuse includes but is not limited to the following types of abuse:

• Physical or sexual abuse
• Violent or threatening behaviour
• Controlling or coercive behaviour
• Economic abuse
• Psychological, emotional or other abuse

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 provides the official definition of domestic abuse.

Remember: Domestic abuse is not your fault. As well as the information on this page, you may also find our advice for people affected by domestic abuse useful.

Domestic abuse directory

The domestic abuse directory lists contact details of organisations that can help you or someone you know who is being affected by domestic abuse. The directory is split into various subjects, with telephone numbers, email and postal addresses, and hyperlinks to organisations' websites.

Be aware that the document will be saved to your computer - if this is a risk for you, remember to delete it from your documents and download history.

Access the directory on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership website.

Accessing the directory

If you are still living with an abusive partner, then you may be worried about that person knowing that you are accessing help. There are a number of things you can do to hide your internet use:

• Most modern web browsers offer a private browsing option that will not keep a record of which sites you visit or what you download: search for ‘private browsing’ and the name of your browser.
• If you cannot use private browsing, clear your browser’s history after searching for sensitive information: search for ‘delete history’ and the name of your browser.
• You might also want to turn off auto-complete in your browser to make sure words you type into the browser do not appear when other people type similar words: search for ‘turn off auto complete’ and the name of your browser.

If you're still unsure how to cover your tracks while using the internet, we strongly recommend that you access the directory either at a trusted friend or relative's house or at one of the free computer points across the counties.

Doing this makes it easier for you to view the websites of the organisations listed and to send them emails if you don't want to speak over the phone or meet in person.

The directory is not available in hard copy, due to the nature of the document and the need to ensure that it is kept up-to-date. We would advise caution in printing off copies of the directory, especially if you are still living with a violent partner.

To find out where the nearest free access point is, please call the relevant council on the number below:

• Cambridge City Council - 01223 457000
• East Cambridgeshire District Council - 01353 665555
• South Cambridgeshire District Council - 03450 450 500

Translation and interpretation

If English is not your first language or you need someone to help you understand the contents of the directory, please contact the relevant council on the number above.