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Information about domestic violence/abuse you should think about recording

It can take time for someone experiencing domestic violence/abuse to feel ready to address their situation, perhaps by leaving, seeking support or telling someone about it. At this point it is helpful to have evidence and records of the abuse/violence they have experienced. If you come into contact with someone in your professional capacity that either has told you they are experiencing domestic violence, or you suspect they are; it is really helpful to document some of the following things:

• Injuries – this could be a written record of what you have seen, or photographs if appropriate ensure to date these records.
• Dates / Times – if someone is telling you that they have been abused, make sure to note down when they say these incidents have occurred. If you have witnessed something e.g. as a Housing Officer, note down the date and time and a summary of what you have seen.
• Account of what happened – as above, this could be their account or yours.
• Your perception of the risks – is the person telling you they are frightened? Are there other factors than may add to their vulnerability? Do you have any other information that indicates there is a high risk of the person being harmed?
• Conduct a risk assessment  - See what to do next section for risk assessment tools
• Take Photographs – this could be of injuries or damage caused to property – this will need the consent of the victim and also must be accurately dated. You could instead write a description if photographs are not possible