East Sussex Domestic Abuse Service

CRI provides information, advocacy and practical and emotional support to women, men and children living with domestic abuse and violence in the East Sussex area.

CRI's Community Independent Domestic Violence Advisors Service (IDVAs) provides practical and emotional support to women and men and the service also offers a specialist therapeutic service for children and young people.

What we do

We help victims find out what their options are, including housing, safety and legal issues, and guidance through the court process. We also put them in touch with other organisations that may be able to address their concerns, including refuge accommodation and sanctuary schemes. Our aim is to support people in making informed choices.

The service provides one-to-one support and individual risk and needs assessments to enable medium and high risk victims of domestic abuse to find the best support for their circumstances. CRI operates safeguarding policies, which are implemented where a person and/or their dependants are thought to be at high risk of continued abuse and further violence. This includes a referral to statutory services and a Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), to discuss the best possible action for their circumstances and concerns.

Domestic abuse can describe a range of behaviours used by one person to control and dominate another person with whom they have had, or are in a close, intimate or family relationship. It may include abuse of men or women by their partner or ex-partners (including same sex relationships) or one family member to another.

• Domestic abuse can affect anyone regardless of age, class, culture, race, religion, sexuality, gender, disability or diversity.
• Domestic abuse can be physical and sexual violence, intimidation, financial, psychological or emotional abuse.

We will not pressurise clients to take action but guide them through the process, enabling them to make an informed choice. They may first want to talk things through with someone who is unbiased and who will not make judgements. Should they want to pursue a prosecution, we can support them to report the incident as well as explain the court process and arrange a pre-court visit.

Next steps

If you want to speak to someone for further advice contact us:

Eastbourne, Wealden and Lewes area: 01323 419 340

Hastings area: 01424 716 629

Further information

The CRI Domestic Abuse Service has been working in East Sussex since 2000 and is supported by East Sussex County Council Community Safety Team and Hastings Borough Council Community Safety Team.