What are the warning signs of domestic violence?

Certain types of injuries can act as warning signs that a person may be a victim of (physical) domestic violence.

For example, people who have multiple or repeated injuries without a logical explanation, seem strangely ‘accident prone’, or show tell-tale marks such as bruises, fingernail scratches or cigarette burns.

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Other signals of domestic violence you might notice in a friend or relative include:

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• they have lost their confidence or are unusually quiet

• they seem afraid of their partner

• they have stopped seeing their friends or family

• their partner often criticizes them, humiliates them, orders them about or makes all the decisions

• their partner controls how the other person spends money, what they wear or what they do

• they often talk about their partner’s bad temper or jealousy (they might regularly accuse the other of flirting or being unfaithful)

• they say their partner pressures or forces them into sexual activity

• they have physical injuries, like bruises, broken bones, sprains or cuts

• the children seem afraid of the person or are very withdrawn or anxious