If you decide you are ready to leave your home to escape the abuse you are suffering try and make a safety plan.

• Have a planned escape route ready for when you may need to flee in an emergency situation.
• Confide in someone you trust. It could be a neighbour, relative, friend or colleague you know and trust, they can listen out for trouble or you can contact them should you need them.
• Make arrangements so you have somewhere to go in an emergency.
• Have a packed bag ready if possible and leave it somewhere safe and out of sight, perhaps at a friends or relatives house.
• Think about things you would need to take with you – important documentation, money, credit cards, keys and medication.
• If you do not live with the abuser make sure your home is secure. You can get assistance with this.
• If there are children and if practical and safe, talk to them before hand about the possibility of leaving in an emergency.
• If you no longer live with the abuser, tell your trusted neighbours and or the police so they can alert you if the abuser is seen near your home.
• If you are injured and have not been able to call the police, see your doctor or attend hospital as soon as possible. Contact the police as soon as you can safely do so.
• If you find yourself in an incident of domestic abuse and you need to leave immediately for your safety you may not have the opportunity to take your belongings with you. However, you can arrange to go back for it with a police officer to prevent a Breach of the Peace.

Leaving an abusive relationship is never easy, but you and your children deserve a life away from abuse and violence.