What is abuse?

Abuse is when a person says or does something which makes you feel very sad or scared. Sometimes it might also be against the law.

Abuse can be caused by anyone. It could be a stranger or even someone who you feel comfortable with like a friend, carer or family member.

Abuse could happen anywhere; in your home, in a public place, at work or college, or online.

Abuse is never your fault and nobody has the right to abuse you.

Abuse is wrong and you should tell someone. If you are scared, tell someone who you trust who can report it for you.

By reporting abuse you can help bring it to an end.

Types of abuse

Abuse is any event or pattern of events of controlling, forcing, threatening behaviour, or violence. Abuse can include:

Physical abuse

Hitting, slapping, kicking or hurting someone in another way.

Sexual abuse

This is when someone touches your private parts when you do not want them to or makes you touch them. It is also when someone talks to you about sex when you do not want them to.

Emotional or psychological abuse

This is when someone makes you feel upset, afraid or unimportant. This could be by someone shouting at you, teasing you, threats or calling you names.

Financial abuse

This is when someone takes something that belongs to you without asking or makes you give them things.

Neglect

This is when you do not get the help you need. It could be that you are not getting help with your medication, care needs or that you are not being given enough food.

Self-neglect

This is when a person might come to harm because they aren’t looking after themselves. This could be because of not taking their medication or not looking after their personal hygiene.

Discriminatory abuse

When someone treats you badly because you are different to them, this is known as discrimination. This could be because of your age. Gender, sexuality, disability, race or religious belief. This is sometimes called Hate Crime.

Organisational abuse

This is when abuse is caused by an organisation such as a care home or a hospital. They may be one off incidents or ongoing abuse.

Modern slavery

This is when someone is forced to work with little or no pay or, is threatened with violence if they do not work.

Domestic abuse

This is when abuse takes place between partners or family members. It is sometimes also called domestic violence.

How to report abuse

• If it’s an emergency, contact the police, tel: 999, If you are in danger and unable to talk on the phone, call 999 and then press 55. This will transfer your call to the relevant police force who will assist you without you having to speak
• If you’re deaf, hard of hearing, have a hearing loss, or are speech impaired, you can use emergency SMS by texting 999 from your phone, or use the NGT Relay Assistant by dialling 18000 from the app or textphone.
• If the person is not in any danger now but there has been a crime, contact the police, tel: 101.
• To report a safeguarding concern or ask for advice about a safeguarding concern, contact: Call Derbyshire. Tel: 01629 533190 from 8am to 8pm on Monday to Friday and from 9:30am to 4pm on Saturdays. You can phone Call Derbyshire anonymously without revealing your name.

Out of hours service

Outside of these times an emergency out of hours service for adult care is available from 5pm to 9am on Monday to Friday and 24 hours a day during weekends and public holidays.

This is an emergency service available for the public and agencies to access a range of social care staff for adults or children in need of social care.
Tel: 01629 532600.

General enquiries
For general non-urgent requests for advice and support you can contact Call Derbyshire by email, text, fax or minicom. This should not be used for Safeguarding concerns or reporting abuse.

• email: contact.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk
• text: 86555
• fax: 01629 533269
• minicom: 01629 533240
• or write to: Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock, DE4 3AG

Customers who prefer to use British Sign Language (BSL) can contact us using a SignLive video interpreter.

This service is available on Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. It’s free to contact us from your home.