Medway Domestic Abuse Service
Our Medway Domestic Abuse Service, also known as Oasis, is a specialist support service for victims of domestic abuse and their families.
Oasis provides:
- a confidential helpline offering emotional support
- advice on what to do
- ongoing one-to-one support to help victims stay safe and recover from their abuse.
If you're in immediate danger you may leave your home to get help. The Medway Domestic Abuse Service can help you access emergency accommodation in a refuge.
How to get help
Call the Medway Domestic Abuse Service confidential number on 0800 917 9948 or email info@choicesdaservice.org.uk.
Domestic
Read the joint Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy.
This is a 5-year strategy that brings together multiple agencies to help people live free from abuse.
Calling the police
If you're in immediate danger call 999 and ask for the police.
If you're in danger and unable to talk on the phone, dial 999, listen to the operator’s questions and respond by coughing or tapping the handset. Then follow the instructions depending on whether you are calling from a mobile or a landline.
If you are calling 999 from a mobile
If prompted, press 55 to Make Yourself Heard. This will transfer your call to the police and does not allow them to track your location.
If you are calling 999 from a landline
If only background noise can be heard and BT operators cannot decide whether an emergency service is needed, you will be connected to a police call handler.
If you replace the handset, the landline may remain connected for 45 seconds in case you pick up again.
When 999 calls are made from landlines, your location should be automatically available to the call handlers to help provide a response.
Adult abuse
If you have an emergency you should call 999.
You can contact the Medway Domestic Abuse Service or report an adult abuse concern.
Find out more about adult abuse and safeguarding
Child abuse
If you have an emergency you should call 999.
You can still get help if you or your child is at risk of domestic abuse.
You can also raise a safeguarding concern for a child using our online form.
More information and support
Women's Aid
Women’s Aid have published some useful safety advice and links to help to people isolated at home with their abuser.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free and in confidence. You can call 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247.
Refuge
Refuge has a range of resources on identifying the signs of domestic abuse. They also have a safety guide for women and children who are living with a perpetrator. It also features a tech abuse chat-bot with step-by-step instructions on how to secure devices such as phones and laptops. Look for the pink button in the bottom-right corner.
Suzy Lamplugh Trust
If you worried about stalking, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust offers advice on how to report stalking and harassment and how to protect your safety.
Men's Advice Line
The Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse and those supporting them. You can contact the advice line on 0808 801 0327.
Galop
Galop runs the National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse specialist helpline, call 0800 999 5428 or email help@galop.org.uk.
Hestia
Hestia provides a free mobile app, Bright Sky, which provides support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.
Chayn
Chayn provides online help and resources about identifying manipulative situations and how friends can support those being abused. It offers support in a number of languages.