Moat | Domestic Abuse

What is domestic abuse?
If someone aged 16 or over abuses a current or ex partner or relative who is also aged 16 or over, that is domestic abuse – even if they don’t live with them. Anyone can be affected regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, background or how much money they have. Domestic abuse can happen anywhere – inside your home, elsewhere or online, and can include:
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Violent or threatening behaviour
- Controlling or coercive behaviour
- Economic abuse (abuse that has a substantial adverse impact on the abused person’s ability to acquire, use or maintain money or other property, or obtain goods or services)
- Psychological, emotional or other abuse
- So-called ‘honour-based’ abuse (including so-called ‘honour-based’ violence)
- Forced marriage
- Female Genital mutilation (FGM)
(The legal definition of domestic abuse is set out in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021).
Our Commitment
To show our ongoing commitment to supporting any of our customers or colleagues who are affected by domestic abuse, we’ve signed the ‘Make a Stand’ Pledge that was launched in June 2018 by the Chartered Institute of Housing, in partnership with Women’s Aid and the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA). This means that we’ve committed to:
- Put in place and embed a policy to support customers who are affected by domestic abuse
- Make information about national and local domestic abuse support services available on our website and in other appropriate places so that they are easily accessible for customers and colleagues
- Put in place a policy to support colleagues who are affected by domestic abuse
- Appoint a champion at a senior level in our organisation to own what we’re doing to support people experiencing domestic abuse

We're here to help

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse please (if you can) contact the police if you’re in immediate danger (see section below) and contact a specialist support organisation. The information on this web page may be useful to anyone who needs help because of domestic abuse, particularly anyone who lives in Kent, Essex, Sussex or South London.

If you’re a Moat customer, or the person abusing you is a Moat customer, we also encourage you to contact us so that we can help.

How to get help from the police

If you need help because of domestic abuse, you can call the police on 999 in an emergency or 101 in a non-emergency. If you’re deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, you can register your mobile phone with the emergency SMS service – you’ll then be able to send an SMS text message to 999 to get help.

If you’re unable to talk, you can still call 999 - listen to the operator and respond by coughing or tapping the keys on your phone. Calling 999 from a landline automatically gives the police information about your location. If calling from a mobile, you can press 55 when prompted and your call will be transferred to the police.
Help to stop your abusive behaviour
If you’re hurting your partner, ex or family member, help to stop is available from:
- Respect Phoneline on 0800 802 4040
- Domestic Violence Intervention Project (London): 0207 633 9181
- The Change Project (various areas including Essex): 0845 372 7701
Help for people affected by domestic abuse – National and local domestic abuse support services
The Bright Sky website and free Bright Sky app are for anyone who’s experiencing domestic abuse or worried about someone else, but please only download the app if it’s safe for you to do so and you’re sure that your phone isn’t being monitored. They include lots of useful information and advice in a number of languages and a UK-wide directory of specialist domestic abuse support services with contact details.

National domestic abuse support services:
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (for women): 0808 2000 247 (Freephone, 24 hour) – The helpline is run by Women’s Aid and Refuge
- SignHealth (help for Deaf people)
- Men’s Advice Line: 0808 801 0327
- LGBT+ Advice Line – GALOP: 0800 999 5428
- AKT (help for LGBTQ+ people aged 16-25): 020 7831 6562 (London)
- Hourglass (previously known as Action on Elder Abuse): 0808 808 8141
- Victim Support: 0808 16 89 111
- The National Centre for Domestic Violence: 0800 970 2070 (This award-winning free service allows anyone who has recently experienced domestic abuse to apply for an emergency court injunction). Legal advice is also available from: Rights of Women: 020 7251 6577 and Civil Legal Advice: 0345 345 4345
- Rape Crisis / Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre: 0808 802 9999
- Safeline (for anyone affected by sexual violence): 01926 402 498 / National Male Survivor Helpline: 0808 800 5005
- Survivors UK (for men and non-binary people affected by rape and sexual abuse): 020 3598 3898
- Revenge Porn Helpline: 0345 6000 459
- Jewish Women’s Aid: 0808 801 0500
- Muslim Community Helpline: 020 8904 8193 or 020 8908 6715
- Karma Nirvana (National Honour Based Abuse Helpline): 0800 5999 247
- True Honour (support for people affected by honour based abuse, forced marriage and Female Genital Mutilation): 07480 621711
- Forced Marriage Unit: 020 7008 0151
- NSPCC FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Helpline: 0800 028 3550
- Modern Slavery Helpline: 08000 121 700
- National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
- Paladin Service (for people affected by stalking): 020 3866 4107
- Dogs Trust - Freedom Project: 0800 298 9199 (London & South East) / 0808 196 6240 (East Anglia) – free dog fostering service
- Cats Protection - Paws Protect: 0345 260 1280 (London & South East) – free cat fostering service
- Surviving Economic Abuse
Local domestic abuse support services:
- Domestic Abuse Support Services (Kent and Medway)
- Essex Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0330 333 7 444
- Safe Space Sussex
- Hestia (support including refuges for women and children in London & South East England): 0808 169 9975
- Solace Women’s Aid (support including refuges for women and children in London): 0808 802 5565
- Women and Girls Network (for women and others in London): 0808 801 0660
- Stay Safe East (for disabled people in London): 07865 340122
- Asian Women’s Resource Centre (London): 020 8691 6549 / 5701
- Chinese Information and Advice Centre (London): 0300 201 1868
- Southall Black Sisters (London): 020 8571 9595
- For further information about other specialist services for Black and Minoritised women and girls please see www.imkaan.org.uk
For more information about local support services please contact your local authority.