Suffolk Constabulary is committed to tackling domestic violence by working in conjunction with various partners.       

Domestic violence and abuse is a pattern of behaviour designed to establish and maintain power and control over another person. 

Research suggests that if left unchallenged it is likely to escalate in frequency and severity, and can lead to murder.

Resources in Suffolk

‘Break the Pattern:STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE’ is an organisational and public awareness raising campaign which provides materials and events, and promotes the development of services for victims and their families.

Each of the Boroughs/Districts has a Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum operating as a multi agency partnership to deliver local objectives to reduce Domestic Violence and support victims and their families.

For further information or to discuss any other Domestic Violence initiatives or concerns, including a contact for your local forum, further details of crisis intervention or information about the ‘Tools for Practitioners’ free training providing general awareness raising and screening/safety planning modules please contact the County Domestic Violence Development Officer on 01473 613873 or email marianne.fellowes@suffolk.pnn.police.uk

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Other Useful Contacts:

Police Victim Liaison Officers:

Eastern area - 01986 835170 (covering Lowestoft, Beccles and Leiston) 

Southern area - 01473 782782 (covering Ipswich, Hadleigh, Felixstowe and Woodbridge)

Western area 01284 774007 (covering Bury St Edmunds, Brandon, Mildenhall, Newmarket, Haverhill, Sudbury and Mid Suffolk)

Women’s Aid & independent refuges:

Bury St Edmunds 01284 753085
Ipswich 01473 745111
Lowestoft 0800 5877890

Family Welfare Association Domestic Violence Children and Families workers:

Ipswich & Suffolk Coastal 07966 982612
Lowestoft & Waveney 07967 272332
West Suffolk (Gt Cornard) 07966 982611

· Customer First (information and referral to Social Care Services) 08456 023023
· Child line 0800 1111
· National Domestic Violence 24hr help line 0808 2000 247

If you need immediate assistance always dial 999. You should dial 999 when life is threatened or people are injured, or if there is a crime in progress or an immediate police response is necessary.

Further details:

Legal definition of Domestic Violence

’Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimated partners regardless of gender.  It will also include family members.’

Domestic violence and abuse accounts for a quarter of all violent crime. It is a serious and life harming offence affecting the lives of one in four families in Suffolk, across all social, economic, or geographic boundaries and regardless of age, race or sexual orientation.  Although there are male victims, it is a crime that is primarily perpetrated by men on female partners or men on male partners within the home. 

Children were present at more than 55 per cent of incidents reported to the police last year and the impact on individuals’ health and well-being is substantial.

Victims of domestic violence have often been abused over long periods of time before contacting the Police or seeking support from other agencies, and many feel they are trapped in situations that they cannot readily leave.

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