Domestic abuse - help and advice
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, help is always available.
In an emergency:
- dial 999
- use the 'silent solution' if your circumstances mean you're afraid to make a noise
In a non-emergency:
- call the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service on 01793 610610 (24-hour helpline) or visit the Swindon Paragon Team SPIDAS - Integrated Domestic Abuse Service
- call Wiltshire Police on 101
Make Yourself Heard - The ‘Silent Solution’ system
The ‘Silent Solution’ system enables a 999 caller to inform the police that they are in a genuine emergency without having to speak to the operator.
If you need help urgently, but if you are too scared or unable to make a noise or speak, you can:
- Dial 999
- Listen to the questions from the 999 operator
- Respond by coughing or tapping the handset if you can
- If prompted by the call operator, press 55. This lets the operator know it's a genuine emergency and you'll be put through to the police.
Safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse
If you are a victim of domestic abuse you will be able to access safer spaces at Boots pharmacies consultation rooms, where you can contact specialist domestic abuse services for support and advice.
For more information on this part of the new 'UK SAYS NO MORE' (UKSNM) campaign, visit the UKSNM website.
Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme (Claire’s Law)
This scheme enables the Police to release information about any previous history of violence or abuse a person might have.
Under Clare's Law you can:
- apply for information about your current partner because you're worried they may have a history of abuse and are a risk to you
- request information about the current partner of a friend or relative because you're worried they might be at risk
To make an application under Clare’s Law, visit the Wiltshire Police website.
Leaving no trace of your visit to this page
You can cover your tracks online if you are scared your abuser will see you have visited this page.
When you visit websites, your computer or device logs the details of your visit. It creates a copy of the pages you have looked at in your temporary Internet files.
You can delete both the history of visited websites and the temporary Internet files from your computer. The way you do this varies depending on the type and version of web browser (for example, Google Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer) you are using. You can check how to do this through a simple Google search, or in the online help/support for your browser. Often, you can find ‘delete functions’ or 'History' options in your browser's ‘Tools’ menu.
You can also switch your browser to 'private' or 'incognito' mode, which means it doesn't log the details of your website visits.
While deleting your temporary Internet Files and history will help reduce the likelihood of discovery, it may not completely cover your tracks. If you want to be completely sure of not being tracked online, the safest way is to access the internet at your local library, a friend’s house, at work or an iplus point.