Hampshire Constabulary: Practical steps you can take or help a friend to take

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Practical steps you can take or help a friend to take

Carry a list of phone numbers of people and organisations who can help you.
Carry a mobile phone or make sure you know where you can make phone-calls from in safety.
Try to save up and carry some money with you so that you can use telephones, public transport or taxis.
Have your own set of keys for your house or car.
Keep these and your money in a safe place so that you can get to it quickly if you need to leave in a hurry.
Plan in advance where you would go and what you would need to take if you had to leave (this includes things like birth certificates, school and medical records, money, driving documents, cheque book, passport, clothing and children’s toys).
Make sure these are in a safe place where you can get to them quickly.
Contact support organisations for advice about where to go.
If you are planning to leave, it is best to avoid confrontation by leaving when your partner is not there.

Change the locks and install window locks.
Get advice from your local police.
Use an answering machine to screen your calls
Have an ex-directory number Inform neighbours of the situation so that they can contact the police if they see or hear anything unusual.

Inform someone you trust at work about your situation
Plan differing routes home from work and avoid routines
Make sure no one passes on your new details if you have had to move or change phone number

Children do not have to see violence to be affected by it. They hear it and sense it, and can be frightened and saddened by it. Talk to your children and tell them its not their fault. There are organisations who can specifically help children who need to talk about things that are upsetting them.
Talk to your friends, relatives, doctor or nurse about how you are feeling.