Family safety support against domestic violence and child abuse

Parental conflict or domestic abuse

Parental conflict and domestic abuse are 2 separate things. It can be difficult to work out if your relationship is abusive or just in a bad place.

If you think you might be in an abusive relationship, the Rise - Am I Being Abused? questionnaire could help.

Where to get help with domestic abuse

Search our community safety partnership directory if you think you might have experienced any form of domestic or sexual violence, or you are supporting somebody who has.

Safety concerns about your children

If you're concerned that your children are not safe with your ex-partner or other family member, it's your responsibility to take protective action which may include:

• stopping your children from seeing your ex-partner, or other family members, where there is a risk to your child’s safety
• asking somebody neutral to help with handovers
• asking for handovers to take place away from the home address
• keeping communication to arrangements about your children
• limiting communicating to text messages
• using a child contact centre which can provide supervised and supported contact, there are often costs involved

Sarah’s Law - The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme

If you have concerns about the safety of your children around either your new partner or the new partner of your ex-partner, you may be able to gain information about their previous offending history.

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme or ‘Sarah’s Law’ in England and Wales allows anyone to formally ask the police if someone with access to a child has a record for child sexual offences. Police will reveal details confidentially to the person most able to protect the child if they think it is in the child’s interests. This is usually parents, carers or guardians. 

Find out more information about how Sarah's Law operates in Brighton and Hove.

Find out how to apply for disclosure to Sussex Police online or phone 101.

When to contact Front Door for Families - Children's Services

You should contact Front Door for Families if you're concerned that:

• your child’s safety is at risk
• you're unable to protect them
• you need additional support or advice