Domestic violence
Phone lines issue for Clarion
If you contact one of our local phone numbers and don't get through, please contact Clarion on 07517 549 499.
Domestic abuse is the threatening or controlling behaviour of a partner. It can be:
- physical
- emotional
- psychological
- financial
- sexual
A person who changes their behaviour because they’re frightened of their partner’s reaction is being abused.
If you believe a child’s at risk of harm due to domestic abuse, please see worried about a child
Resources for those working with families affected by domestic violence.
If there’s an immediate risk to someone’s safety, please call 999.
Other local support services
Refuge from domestic abuse
If you need to flee domestic abuse, please call the free 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Clarion Housing Association provides safe refuge accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence across East Sussex.
If you are seeking refuge in East Sussex, you can email Clarion at referrals.eastsussex@clarionhg.com. Please include a safe contact number or email address and the best time to contact you and a member of the refuge team will call you back.
Or call:
- Eastbourne refuge 0300 333 6527
- Lewes Refuge 0300 333 6712
- Rother and Hastings refuge 0300 333 6713
- Wealden refuge 0300 333 6714
- Out of hours, call 07517 549499
Rape and sexual violence
The Survivors Network provide the specialist rape and sexual violence abuse service for Sussex. You can contact them via that website, or call them on 01273 203 380.
Stalking and harassment
The specialist stalking advocacy services for Sussex is provided by Veritas Justice. You can contact them via that website, or call them on call them on 01273 234 773.
If you’ve been affected by:
- domestic abuse
- stalking or
- any other crime
you can also visit Safe Space Sussex. It provides an online directory of local victim and witness specialist support services. It also has information about what happens at each stage of the criminal justice system. This helps to ‘demystify’ the process for people when they may be at their most vulnerable.
Request information under Clare’s Law
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) is often called ‘Clare’s Law’ after the landmark case that led to it. Clare’s Law gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them. Make a DVDS application at Sussex Police.
National support services
- 24-hour Aanchal helpline or call 0797 099 0352 – if English isn’t your first language. Support for women affected by domestic abuse, whatever your background, language, or cultural experience. Helpline staff available to help you in a number of languages. These include English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Gujarati, Tamil, Bengali.
- Women’s Aid and the Survivor’s Handbook - provides information for women on a wide range of issues. It covers housing, money, helping your children, and your legal rights.
- Mankind Helpline or call 01823 334244 – helping men escape domestic abuse.
- Galop or call 0800 999 5428 – for all LGBT+ people who’ve experienced hate crime, domestic abuse or sexual violence.
- Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service or call 020 3866 4107 – for anyone affected by stalking.
- NHS – domestic violence and abuse - recognise the different types of domestic violence and abuse – emotional, physical, sexual, and how to get help.