Wider types of abuse

DVA can come in many different forms. Click the headings below for more information on some of the types of abuse:

There is no specific offence of "honour based crime". It is an umbrella term to encompass various offences covered by existing legislation. Honour based violence (HBV) can be described as:

"A collection of practices, which are used to control behaviour within families or other social groups to protect perceived cultural and religious beliefs and/or honour. Such violence can occur when perpetrators perceive that a relative has shamed the family and/or community by breaking their honour code."
  • It is a violation of human rights and may be a form of domestic and/or sexual violence. There is no, and cannot be, honour or justification for abusing the human rights of others.
  • The CPS, ACPO and support groups have a common definition of HBV:
    'Honour based violence' is a crime or incident which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/or community’.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises:

  • "All procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
  • Procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
  • The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women.
  • Procedures can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, infertility as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.
  • More than 125 million girls and women alive today have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and Middle East where FGM is concentrated.
  • FGM is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15.
  • FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
  • FGM is illegal in many countries, including the UK."

World Health Organisation

A new mandatory reporting duty for FGM is being introduced via the Serious Crime Act 2015, following a public consultation. The duty will require regulated health and social care professionals and teachers in England and Wales to report known cases of FGM in under 18-year-olds to the police. It will come into force on 31 October 2015 www.gov.uk/government/publications/mandatory-reporting-of-female-genital-mutilation-procedural-information

Controlling behaviour is "a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour."

Coercive behaviour is "an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim."

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