Protecting yourself after you have left

 

If you leave your partner because of abuse, you may not want people to know the reason you left. It is your decision whether or not you tell people that you have suffered domestic violence; but if you believe you may still be at risk, it might increase your safety if you tell your family and friends, your children's school, and your employer or college what is happening, so that they do not inadvertently give out any information to your ex-partner. They will also be more prepared and better able to help you in an emergency.

If you have left home, but are staying in the same town or area, these are some of the ways in which you might be able to increase your safety:

• Try not to place yourself in a vulnerable position or isolate yourself.
• Try to avoid any places, such as shops, banks, cafes, that you used to use when you were together.
• Try to alter your routines as much as you can.
• If you have any regular appointments that your partner knows about (for example, with a counsellor or health practitioner) try to change your appointment time and/or the location of the appointment.
• Try to choose a safe route, or alter the route you take or the form of transport you use, when approaching or leaving places you cannot avoid - such as your place of work, the children's school, or your GP's surgery.
• Tell your children's school, nursery or childminder what has happened, and let them know who will pick them up. Make sure they do not release the children to anyone else, or give your new address or telephone number to anyone. (You may want to establish a password with them, and give them copies of any court orders, if you have them.)
• Consider telling your employer or others at your place of work - particularly if you think your partner may try to contact you there.

If you have moved away from your area, and don't want your abuser to know where you are, then you need to take particular care with anything that may indicate your location; for example:

• Your mobile phone could be 'tracked'; this is only supposed to happen if you have given your permission, but if your partner has had access to your mobile phone, he could have sent a consenting message purporting to come from you. If you think this could be the case, you should contact the company providing the tracking facility and withdraw your permission; or if you are in any doubt, change your phone.
• Try to avoid using shared credit or debit cards or joint bank accounts: if the statement is sent to your ex-partner, he will see the transactions you have made.
• Make sure that your address does not appear on any court papers. (If you are staying in a refuge, they will advise you on this.)
• If you need to phone your abuser (or anyone with whom he is in contact), make sure your telephone number is untraceable by dialling 141 before ringing.
• Talk to your children about the need to keep your address and location confidential.

Victims of stalking and domestic violence are now allowed to join the electoral register anonymously, so ensure they are not put at risk, and do not lose the right to vote. Anyone wanting to register their details anonymously must provide evidence such as an order under the Family Law Act 1996 or the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. If an application is granted, the details that appear on the register only have a person's electoral number and the letter N.

If you stay or return to your home after your partner has left, then you will probably have an occupation order or a protection order. Make sure that your local police station has a copy of your non-molestation order, and that the police know that they need to respond quickly in an emergency. In some areas, there are special schemes to ensure a rapid response by the police (for example, the Community Alarm scheme in the London Borough of Haringey); and in other areas there may be projects (such as Staying Put in Bradford, and the Sanctuary Projects in Barnet and Bromley) that provide advice and additional security measures to make your home safe. However, it is important to know that you do not have to stay at home - with or without a non-molestation order - if you do not feel safe there.

You could also consider the following:

• Changing the locks on all doors.
• Putting locks on all windows if you don't have them already.
• Installing smoke detectors on each floor, and providing fire extinguishers.
• Installing an outside light (back and front) which comes on automatically when someone approaches.
• Informing the neighbours that your partner no longer lives there, and asking them to tell you - or call the police - if they see him nearby.
• Changing your telephone number and making it ex-directory.
• Using an answering machine to screen calls.
• Keeping copies of all court orders together with dates and times of previous incidents and call-outs for reference if you need to call the police again.

If your ex-partner continues to harass, threaten or abuse you, make sure you keep detailed records of each incident, including the date and time it occurred, what was said or done, and, if possible, photographs of damage to your property or injuries to yourself or others. If your partner or ex-partner injures you, see your GP or go to hospital for treatment and ask them to document your visit. If you have non-molestation order, or there is a restraining order in place, you should ask the police to enforce this; and if your ex-partner is in breach of any court order, you should also tell your solicitor.