Domestic Violence and Abuse

Domestic violence and abuse comes in many forms and can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, disability, sexuality, religion, ethnic group, social status or wealth. It can include mental, emotional, financial, sexual and physical abuse.

It commonly occurs behind closed doors, leaving people feeling powerless to stop the emotional and physical pain. Children can also be affected by hearing arguments, being caught in the middle, witnessing or experiencing abuse themselves.

The First Steps 

The first thing is to recognise you are being abused and that you do not deserve it. Domestic violence is a crime. To report it, call Surrey Police on 101.

Help and Contacts

Mole Valley District Council may be able to help you through one of the schemes available. Help offered, such as somewhere to stay, will depend on your circumstances, including immigration status. 

Some of the options available are:

• Sanctuary Scheme: offering a range of individually tailored security improvements enabling victims to stay safely in their own homes
• Surrey Mobility Scheme: helping existing tenants of social landlords transfer to alternative accommodation within Surrey
• Private rented accommodation: help with finding alternative accommodation. This may include assistance with some of the costs involved, such as security deposits and bonds
• Making a homeless application: you have the right to make an application to any council as homeless, but the relevant criteria must be satisfied before a council has a duty to find you somewhere to live
• Information is also available regarding legal issues such as injunctions, occupation orders and exclusion orders and referrals to agencies who can assist in obtaining them 

Legal Advice and Help

There are a number of local solicitors that offer specialist help with Family Law and funding:

The following local solicitors offer specialist help with Family Law:

Local Support and Advice Organisations