Q I need to obtain support in order to protect myself from my violent partner. Where do I start?

A If you are experiencing domestic abuse, the number one priority is to protect your safety and that of any children involved. If you are in immediate danger and it is an emergency, our advice would always be to call 999 to seek police assistance.

If you do not feel that you are in immediate danger or need to call to police on an urgent basis in order to protect yourself, there are a number of other options available.

Nationally there are a number of support services for victims of domestic abuse. For example, you can call the National Centre for Domestic Violence on 0844 8044 999. The centre provides a free service to all caller.

Alternatively there is the national 24-hour helpline 0808 2000 247, run jointly by Women’s Aid and Refuge. Again this is a free service. The number will not show on your home telephone bill but may appear on itemised mobile phone bill.

There are specific helplines targeted at particular gender groups. For example, the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 and the ManKind Initiative on 01823 334244 offer assistance to men who experience violence from their partners or ex-partners. Women's Aid on 0808 2000 247 is a national charity working to end violence against women and children. There are also helplines which have been set up specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples; disabled people and a number of religious groups.

These numbers can all be found on the reducing the risk of domestic violence website, see reducingtherisk.org.uk/ cms/content/ support-numbers There are also a number of local initiatives that have been set up to help victims of abuse.

In West Berkshire, there is Flag DV, a charity based in Newbury, which provides free legal advice to people who are victims of abuse. They run fortnightly free legal advice clinics in Newbury. To make an appointment, call West Berkshire Domestic Abuse Service between 10am and 4pm, from Monday to Saturday, on 0800 731 0055. Unfortunately I am not aware of anything similar in Oxfordshire, but that is probably because there is a greater number of solicitors firms offering legal aid on family matters, although the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Service uses the same number as above for referrals 0800 731 0055.

It is important to stress that Legal Aid is still available for victims of domestic abuse. If you need to obtain a protective injunction (more commonly known as a non-molestation order) to protect you from your partner, you can contact a solicitor to assess your financial eligibility for legal advice on this basis.

An application to the courts for a non-molestation order can be made either on an urgent basis or on notice to the other party, if the risk of harm is not imminent.

We would always advise people to keep a diary of any incidents between them and their partner and to log them by calling the police non-emergency number, 101.

If you do then have to apply for a protective injunction or other order, there will be a clear log of the abuse that you have suffered.