Each UK nation has its own free domestic abuse helpline, open 24 hours a day: in England call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247, in Wales Live Fear Free on 0808 80 10 800, in Scotland the Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline on 0800 027 1234, and in Northern Ireland the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414. You don’t need to report to the police first. If you are in danger now, call 999.
Updated 14 October 2026 · Sources: the helplines’ own websites, Welsh Government, nidirect, GOV.UK, ONS · Numbers and hours checked on 14 October 2026 · Next review: January 2027
If you or a child are at risk right now, call 999. If you can’t speak, stay on the line; on a mobile, press 55 when asked (see how a silent 999 call works). Quick exit: if someone checks your phone or computer, read this on a safe device or in a private window and clear your history afterwards. The helpline websites have a quick exit button, and Refuge Tech Safety explains how to secure your devices.
Which domestic abuse helpline should I call?
Call the national helpline for the nation you live in: England 0808 2000 247, Wales 0808 80 10 800, Scotland 0800 027 1234, Northern Ireland 0808 802 1414. All four are open day and night. Men can also call the Men’s Advice Line, and LGBT+ people can call Galop. Specialist lines are listed further down.
What are the domestic abuse helpline numbers in each UK nation?
These are the four national helplines. Each one supports people experiencing domestic abuse, and most also help friends, family and professionals who are worried about someone. Numbers and hours were checked on each helpline’s official page on 14 October 2026.
Wales: GOV.UK’s domestic abuse page lists 0808 80 10 100 for Live Fear Free; the Welsh Government’s own contact page gives 0808 80 10 800, which we use. For every official number in one place, see which number should I call?
Is there a domestic abuse helpline for men or LGBT+ people?
Yes. The Men’s Advice Line (0808 801 0327) is for male victims of domestic abuse, and Galop runs a free helpline for LGBT+ victims (0800 999 5428). Northern Ireland’s and Wales’s national helplines support anyone. There are also specialist lines for honour-based abuse and for older people, below.
What happens when you call a domestic abuse helpline?
A trained adviser listens, believes you and does not tell you what to do. They help you understand your options, plan for your safety and, if you want, find a refuge space or local specialist service. The call is confidential and you can talk for as long as you need. Lines can be busy, so try again or use live chat.
Can I call a helpline if I’m not sure it’s abuse?
Yes. You can call if you feel afraid of a partner, ex or relative, whether or not they have been physically violent. Controlling, threatening or humiliating behaviour can be abuse too; read what coercive control is. Friends, family and colleagues who are worried can also call.
Who experiences domestic abuse?
Anyone can. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates that 9.1% of women and 6.5% of men aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse in the year to March 2025: about 2.2 million women and 1.5 million men. That is why there are helplines for men and LGBT+ people as well as women.
Key: share of women and men aged 16+ in England and Wales who experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025. Source: ONS, Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview, November 2025.
Domestic abuse helplines: myths and facts
How do I contact a helpline safely if someone checks my phone?
Use a phone or computer the other person can’t reach, such as a friend’s or a work device, or a private browser window. Use the quick exit button on helpline websites and clear your history afterwards. If you think your devices are being watched, the helplines advise visiting from a safe device; Refuge Tech Safety has step-by-step guides.
GOV.UK also points to the free Bright Sky app from the charity Hestia, which helps you find support. Only download it if it is safe for you to have it on your phone. If you are deaf or can’t speak on the phone, you can register for emergencySMS by texting REGISTER to 999 when it is safe to do so.
Is domestic abuse support different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Yes. Each nation has its own helpline, run by a different organisation, and the police route differs in Scotland. The laws differ too: Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own domestic abuse offences, and court orders such as non-molestation orders are not used in Scotland. The table shows how each nation compares with England.
▲ this guide · ▬ similar · ▼ different. In an emergency, 999 works the same in every nation.
Should I call a helpline or the police?
Call 999 if you are in danger now. Otherwise you can choose: a helpline gives confidential support and advice without involving the police, and the police can investigate a crime. Many people do both. See 999 or 101? and where to report a crime in the UK for every reporting route.
If you want legal protection, read about non-molestation orders, which protection order does what and Clare’s Law, which lets you ask the police about a partner’s past.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, is a freephone number, 0808 2000 247, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is also live chat on its website, and a British Sign Language service on weekdays from 10am to 6pm.
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline can support you in your preferred language through a confidential interpreting service, and accepts calls through text relay and Contact Scotland BSL. For other helplines, call and ask what support they can offer.
Sources
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge)
- Welsh Government: contact Live Fear Free
- Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
- nidirect: Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline
- Men’s Advice Line (Respect)
- Galop: helplines
- Karma Nirvana: helpline
- Hourglass
- GOV.UK: domestic abuse, how to get help
- ONS: Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview, November 2025
- Refuge Tech Safety
General information for the UK, not legal advice. Laws change: check GOV.UK or a solicitor for your situation. In an emergency, always call 999.
Keep reading
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