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Every day, women and girls across the UK experience abuse, but abusive behaviours can be hard to spot. They are often pretending to be something else. Control is camouflaging as care. Manipulation is mistaken for love. Sinister behaviours can slip by unnoticed. 

It’s time to see these behaviours for what they are. Abuse.

Abuse can happen anywhere

Abuse can happen anywhere – and it’s not always easy to recognise. It happens in homes, in education settings, on public transport, online, at work, on nights out and in relationships. Often hidden. Often dismissed. Often missed. But the scale is impossible to ignore:

2.2 million

women aged 16+ experienced domestic abuse in 2025

1 in 5

women have been a victim of stalking

200,000+

Sexual offences recorded by the police in 2024/25

Can you spot what crosses the line?
Can you spot what crosses the line?

Can you spot what crosses the line?

We all think we know when something’s gone too far. But spotting the line isn’t always that easy. Some behaviours can seem harmless until you look closer.  

Take the quiz to see how well you can spot what crosses the line.

Take the quiz
woman on bus
woman on bus

What is abuse?

Abuse isn’t always easy to spot. Some people think it’s only physical, but it can also be stalking someone online, sharing a nude pic of your partner with your mates or deciding what a woman wears or who she sees.

If we all recognise abuse for what it is, we can help stop it.  

woman comforting a friend
woman comforting a friend

Need support? 

If you’re experiencing or have experienced abuse, you don’t have to face it alone. Support is available – talking to someone can make a big difference.

man talking to a friend
man talking to a friend

Is it crossing the line? 

Most people don’t set out to cross a line. But sometimes it’s hard to tell when it’s happened. A message, a joke, a comment – they can feel harmless at the time but still go too far. 

See what crossing the line looks like, and how to change it. 

man on phone
man on phone

Reporting abuse

If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse, there are ways to report it. Find out more about how to report abuse.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999. 

Need content in another format?

If you are a British Sign Language (BSL) user, please see our British Sign Language (BSL) page for information on this campaign and how to access support if you've experienced abuse.

If you have learning difficulties, you can download an Easy Read pdf