Where can I get help?
Emergencies
If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
If you can’t speak but the operator hears something suspicious, they’ll connect you to a police call handler. If you can make some noise, for example cough, whisper or tap the handset, the operator will connect you to the police.
If you can’t speak, and the operator can’t tell what service you need, they’ll transfer you to the Silent Solution system. This runs a 20 second automated message, and that will ask you to press 55, to be put through to the police. This does not allow the police to track your location.
Non-emergencies
For non-emergencies contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101.
Support
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, there are many organisations in Nottinghamshire who can help and support you:
For Women, Children and Young People (including young men up to age 17 years, 11 months):
1. Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid (the domestic abuse commissioned service for Newark and Sherwood, Mansfield and Bassetlaw).
Website: www.nottswa.org
E-mail: enquiries@nottswa.org
Phone: 01909 491330. A 24-hour helpline is available by calling 0808 800 0340
2. Juno Women’s Aid (the domestic abuse commissioned service for Ashfield, Gedling, Broxtowe, Rushcliffe and Nottingham City)
Website: www.Junowomensaid.org.uk
E-mail: enquiries@junowomensaid.org.uk
Phone: A 24-hour helpline is available by calling 0808 800 0340
3. Newark Women’s Aid (a small, independent local charity)
Website: www.newarkwomensaid.com
E-mail: newarkwomensaid@btconnect.com
Phone: 01636 679687
4. Refuge
Website: refuge.org.uk
Phone: A 24-hour helpline is available by calling 0808 2000 247
For Men, 18 years and over:
1. Equation (the domestic abuse commissioned service for Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City)
Website: www.equation.org.uk
E-mail: info@equation.org.uk
Phone: 0115 960 5556
Support just for children
1. Childline
Website: www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/home-families/family-relationships/domestic-abuse/
Phone: 0800 1111
2. NSPCC
Website: nspcc.org.uk
Phone: 0800 800 5000
3. Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid (has a specialised children’s service available).
Website: www.nottswa.org
E-mail: enquiries@nottswa.org
Phone: 01909 491330. A 24-hour helpline is available by calling 0808 800 0340
Support for Perpetrators:
1. The Your Choice Project
This is a voluntary behavioural change programme. It is for adults who want help to stop using abusive behaviour towards a current or ex-partner or someone in their family. It is a partnership between: The Jenkins Centre, Equation, Juno Women’s Aid and Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid.
Email: contact@yourchoiceproject.org.uk
Phone: 0115 6950 734
2. Respect
Website: www.respect.uk.net
Phone: 0808 802 4040
Safe spaces
Safe Spaces aren't just for contacting a domestic abuse helpline. If want to leave an abusive relationship, and need somewhere private to get things sorted, Safe Spaces are open for you. Find a safe space in a bank or pharmacy near you.
Every Jobcentre in Nottinghamshire is a J9 safe space. Survivors can access the use of a telephone, signposting to services and a safe space to disclose. Each Jobcentre has trained male and female Domestic Abuse Specialists.
Victims of domestic abuse are also able to access safe spaces at Boots UK pharmacy consultation rooms across the country where they can contact specialist domestic abuse services for support and advice.
Bright Sky app
Bright Sky is a new app to help victims of domestic abuse record evidence of their abusive relationships and seek professional help.
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse it will help you to log private journal entries in the form of text, photos and videos, which are then sent to a designated email address. This information can be sent to the authorities at a later date.
The app also uses GPS to show you help points nearby and offers advice if you’re in an abusive relationship, or for people who are concerned about someone else.
Download the app from the Apple App store or on Google Play for Android devices.
Clare’s Law
Clare’s Law, also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) is a police policy giving people the right to know if their current or ex-partner has any previous history of violence or abuse. The scheme is named after Clare Wood, who was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend in 2009.
Under Clare’s Law, you have:
- The ‘right to ask.’ You have a right to ask the police no matter if your enquiry relates to a heterosexual or same-sex relationship, as long as you are aged 16 or older.
- Make an application to the police requesting information about your current or ex-partner, because you are worried they may have been abusive in the past and believe they may pose a risk to you in future.
- Request information from the police about the current or ex-partner of a close friend, neighbour or family member, because you are concerned that they might be at risk of domestic abuse in future.
- The ‘right to know’. This means that if police checks show that your current or ex-partner has a record of violent or abusive behaviour, and they believe you may be at risk, they may decide to proactively share that information with you.
Hear from others
Hear people’s experiences of domestic abuse and how they have received support from organisations in Nottinghamshire on the Nottinghamshire County Council website.