It’s never OK to hit someone – woman, man, girl or boy.

Domestic abuse is never OK. Even if children are not in the same room, they often see or hear what’s happening.

If a grown-up hurts another grown-up it is domestic abuse. Being drunk is just used as an excuse for bad behaviour.

Domestic abuse can happen in any family – rich or poor, big or small.

It’s never the fault of the person who is being abused. The abuser is always to blame.

Domestic abuse can happen between two men or two women who are going out with each other or live together. It can also happen between family members, for example an uncle or nephew.

Domestic abuse is never the fault of the children, and you are not to blame in this situation.

Domestic abuse can happen between two adults whether they are married to each other or not. They might be going out with each other, or living together, or they might have recently split up form each other, or be separated or divorced. Domestic violence can also happen within the wider family – for example from a grandparent to a parent.

Domestic abuse may also happen between teenagers who are going out together.