Abuse is when someone treats another person badly or unfairly. It can break their human or civil rights as a person.
Abuse can be small, like not showing respect, or very serious, like hurting someone or causing great harm.
Abuse can happen within any relationship where often happens in relationships where trust is expected, like between family members, friends, or carers.
Types of abuse
Physical abuse
This includes when someone hurts your body. This can be:
- hitting, slapping, pushing or kicking
- giving the wrong medicine
- holding someone down and forcing them to eat
Sexual abuse
This includes rape and sexual assault. This is when someone makes a person take part in sexual activity when they do not want to or cannot agree.
Emotional or psychological abuse
This affects how someone feels. This can be:
- threatening or scaring them
- ignoring them or leaving them alone
- making them feel bad or blaming them
- shouting, bullying or controlling them
Neglect and acts of omission
This is when someone does not give the care a person needs such as not:
- giving enough food or drink
- giving medicine
- keeping them clean or warm
- respecting their beliefs or culture
Financial abuse
This is when someone takes or uses another person’s money or things without permission.
Discrimination
This is when someone is treated unfairly because of who they are. This can be because of their:
- age
- disability
- race
- religion
- gender or sexuality
Domestic abuse
This happens between people who live together or are in a close relationship. It can include physical, emotional, sexual, or money-related abuse.
Modern slavery
This is when people are forced to work or are controlled by others. For example, being:
- moved somewhere against their will (human trafficking)
- forced to work
- made to work to pay off a debt they can never repay
Organisational abuse
This happens in places like care homes or hospitals when systems or staff do not treat people properly. For example:
- not enough staff
- not giving people choices
- not respecting dignity or privacy
- poor care or ignoring complaints
Self-neglect
This is when someone is not looking after themselves. For example:
- not washing or eating properly
- not getting help when they need it
- living in unsafe conditions
Where can abuse happen?
Abuse can happen anywhere, such as:
- at home
- at a friend or family member’s house
- in a care home or hospital
- at college
- in public places
It can happen once or many times.
Who can be abusive?
Anyone can abuse someone, including:
- partners or family members
- friends or neighbours
- care workers
- volunteers or strangers
Safeguarding principles (keeping people safe)
These are the main ideas to help keep people safe:
- empowerment – help people make their own choices
- prevention – stop harm before it happens
- proportionality – take the right level of action
- protection – support people who need help most
- partnership – work together to keep people safe
- accountability – be open and responsible for actions