On 29 April 2021 the government enacted the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. This places a duty on Cumberland Council to assess the need for support and prepare strategies to provide services for victims in safe accommodation and to provide domestic abuse survivors with community in-reach services. 

Domestic abuse includes:

  • coercive control
  • emotional abuse
  • physical or sexual abuse
  • financial abuse
  • harassment or stalking
  • online abuse

If you or someone you know is at risk or experiencing abuse, help and support is available. 


To report an incident or in an emergency:

Cumbria police non-emergency call 101 or report to Cumbria Police online, in an emergency always call 999 


There is a duty to accommodate and support victims of domestic abuse. Please contact your local area:

Copeland: Homelessness3@cumberland.gov.uk 01946 598300 24 hours

Allerdale: Homelessness1@cumberland.gov.uk 01900 702660 office hours, 0300 373 3730 out of hours

Carlisle: Homelessness2@cumberland.gov.uk 01228 817428 office hours, 01228 817373 / 817386 out of hours

Gateway 4 Women (Carlisle) men's support also available: 01228 212090  admin@cumbriagateway.co.uk

Women Out West (Whitehaven): 01946 550103/07516 416040  Wowadmin@ttcwestcumbria.org

Freedom Project (West Cumbria) for women, men and children: 01900 671167/07712 117986 admin@freedom-project-westcumbria.org.uk

Cumbria Victim Support (Cumbria wide) for women, men and children: 0300 3030 157 (local) Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and 24/7 Support Line 0808 1689 111  Cumbria.Admin@victimsupport.org.uk

Safety Net (Cumbria wide) for women, men and children01228 515859 

The Birchall Trust (Cumbria wide) for women, men and children.

National LGBT Domestic Abuse Victims: 0800 9995428 

Mankind Initiative: 01823 334244 and Men's Advice Line 0808 8010327 

24 Hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone helpline: 01942 262 270

National Child Line: 0800 1111

The Domestic Abuse Alliance brings together organisations working on the frontline of domestic abuse across the UK with the legal sector to deliver joined-up instant legal assistance and protection.  They run the We Protect app. On this app, victims of domestic abuse can get free, legal advice. Referrals can be made online using a one page form or by telephone 0800 101 7110.