Spot the Signs of Abuse and Speak Out

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is an act involving contact, intended to cause feelings of physical pain, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm to hurt someone intentionally.

Signs of physical abuse may include:

• An adult reports being hit, slapped, kicked, or mistreated
• Bruising, fractures or burns
• Bed sores
• Open wounds, cuts, punctures
• Untreated injuries in various stages of healing
• A sudden change in behaviour by an adult
• The caregiver's refusal to allow visitors to see a vulnerable adult alone
• Unexplained weight loss

View the signs of physical abuse leaflet.

Financial abuse

Financial or material abuse involves someone using or misusing money to control a person’s actions and their freedom. Using an adult’s funds, belongings or property without their permission. Types of financial abuse include scams (both online and in-person), theft, fraud, coercion of an adult for their financial affairs or arrangements – such as their will, property or inheritance.

Signs of financial or material abuse may include:

• Withdrawal(s) of sums of money from bank accounts, and/or via cashpoints
• Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions
• Lack of money, food, clothing, heating
• Unusual activity in bank accounts
• Unpaid bills
• Internet or social media scamming, such as delivery of unexpected parcels
• Reluctance on the part of the person with responsibility for the funds to provide basic food and clothes etc
• Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents
• Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming rights to a vulnerable adult’s possessions
• Potential misuse of responsibilities by people with power of attorney for an adult

View the signs of financial abuse leaflet.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is where an individual is forced, pressured, or tricked into taking part in sexual activity with another person.

Sexual abuse includes rape, indecent exposure, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual harassment, teasing or innuendo, sexual photography or subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts that the adult has not consented to or was pressured into consenting to.

Sexual abuse can occur in relationships – for example, if somebody rapes their partner or regulates their access to birth control. The person may have expressed that they didn’t want to be involved, may not be able to give consent or may not have the capacity to understand what is happening.

Signs of sexual abuse may include:

• Bleeding, pain, itching or sores around the genitals
• Pain or discomfort when walking or sitting
• Bruising, especially on the thighs, buttocks, upper arms and neck
• Torn, blooded or stained clothing
• Sexually transmitted infections or incontinence that is unrelated to a medical diagnosis
• Unexplained pregnancy, for example in a woman who is unable to consent to intercourse
• Not wanting to receive help with personal care
• Exploitation of an adult into sex working

View the signs of sexual abuse leaflet.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is any type of behaviour that involves emotional or psychological mistreatment of a person.

It includes threats of harm or abandonment, enforced social isolation (such as preventing someone from seeing their family or accessing external services, like education), not respecting privacy. Additionally, it can take the form of intimidating, coercing, or threatening someone. It can also be cyber-bullying, or preventing someone from meeting their religious and cultural needs, their expression of choice and opinion, or meaningful activities and stimulation.

In relationships, emotional abuse can also include harassing a partner about imagined affairs or other false claims.

Signs of emotional abuse may include:

• Tearfulness and other signs of distress, including anger in some cases.
• Fearfulness or silence when a particular person is around.
• Depression
• Confusion
• Loss of sleep
• Unexpected or unexplained change in behaviour
• Aggressive shouting causing fear of violence in a public place
• Low self-esteem, or withdrawal or change in the emotional state of the person.
• Changes in appetite, or weight loss or gain
• Insomnia

View the signs of emotional abuse leaflet.

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse is abuse or neglect which arises from within an intimate or family relationship. This type of abuse can include physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse, as well as ‘honour-based’ abuse such as forced marriage. It includes threatening behaviour, violence and coercive or controlling behaviour.

Coercive control is a core feature of domestic abuse. This is any behaviour designed to control an individual, and includes behaviours such as regulating behaviour, punishing or frightening someone, isolating them, exploiting their resources or money, or assaulting, threatening, humiliating or intimidating them.

Signs of domestic abuse may include:

• Physical indicators, such as:
  • Bruising
  • Broken bones
  • Burns
  • Injuries to the body
• Psychological indicators, such as:
  • Being isolated from friends or family
  • Low self-esteem
  • Blaming themselves for things (including their abuse)
  • Humiliation in front of others
  • Person is not able to go out alone
• Financial indicators, such as:
  • Limited access to money
  • Damage to the home or other property

View the signs of domestic abuse leaflet.

Discriminatory abuse

Discriminatory abuse occurs when an someone is treated unequally because they possess one of the protected characteristics outlined by the Equality Act 2010. These characteristics are age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, and religion or belief.

This type of abuse includes derogatory comments, jokes or slurs, denying access to services, hate crime, ignoring someone’s views, unfair treatment, and denying somebody’s rights to healthcare, education or employment because of a protected characteristic.

Signs of discriminatory abuse may include:

• A report of or observing an adult of being treated unfairly
• Behavioural changes, including an individual becoming withdrawn, isolated, angry, frustrated, afraid and anxious
• An individual beginning to reject their own cultural background, personal beliefs, sexual preferences or lifestyle choices
• Lack of personal belongings
• Lack of privacy and dignity
• Use of punishments such as withholding food and drink
• A lack of support for an individual’s needs

View the signs of discriminatory abuse leaflet.