Help if you're experiencing domestic violence or abuse

If you are not safe in your home

Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. If it's not safe for you to speak you can press 55 (only on mobile phones) to be connected to the police, allowing them to track your location and send assistance.

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, you can use the police textphone service 18000 101 or text them on 999 if you've pre-registered with the emergency SMS service:

Contact 999 using Relay UK - on the Relay UK website

You can also report domestic violence or abuse to the police online, in person by visiting a police station, or by calling 101.

Report domestic abuse online - on the Sussex Police website

What is domestic violence and abuse?

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender or sexual orientation.

Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to:

physical violence
controlling behaviour
sexual abuse
being prevented from seeing friends and family
financial abuse and control
emotional abuse
domestic abuse also includes 'honour-based' abuse, forced marriage and female genital mutilation
use of spyware, GPS locators, and accessing social media or emails to track a partner's location and conversations
sharing, or threatening to share, intimate photos or videos without consent
stalking and harassment

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Look for help safely

Your computer or mobile device stores information about the websites you visit. If there is a chance that someone might be checking your computer you can delete your browsing history, but it might be safer to use a different device.

All libraries in West Sussex offer members free use of their computers:

Find your local library - on the WSCC website

Every situation is different and there are different ways you can be helped to either stay in your home or to move somewhere safe.

You're not to blame for what's happening. You're not alone.

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Support available from the council

If you are not safe where you are living you can go to a council homeless and housing team for help. If you do not think you will be safe in the area you now live, you can go to any council.

If you need to leave your home straight away, you can get help from Adur & Worthing Councils by coming to our offices during office hours at Worthing Town Hall or The Shoreham Centre.

If you can't get to us in person you can contact the Housing Needs team:

by phoning 01903 221063 (office hours and out of hours)
or sending an email to housing.needs@adur-worthing.gov.uk

If you need help in the evening, night time, weekends or bank holidays, you can speak to an out-of-hours housing officer:

Out of hours contact details

Professionals who want to refer should complete a Duty to Refer form.

What help you receive will depend on your circumstances. It may include being offered a safe place for you and your family to stay, or support to put measures in place for you to be safe at home. It may be a referral to another service who can help you.

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Services that may be able to help you

If there is a chance that someone might be checking your computer you can delete your browsing history, but it might be safer to use a different device when searching the below websites.

WORTH is a Specialist Domestic Abuse Service for people who are experiencing or are at risk of domestic abuse in West Sussex. The West Sussex County Council (WSCC) website provides further information and how to access their support: