Categories of abuse

Safeguarding laws across the UK define different categories of abuse and harm. Knowing these categories is helpful because it can enable you to recognise when someone is being harmed. You should pass on your concerns whenever you are worried that you or somebody else might be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm and abuse. 

Abuse and harm refer to actions, or lack of action which cause harm or distress to a person or violate their human or civil rights. 

Abuse always involves the misuse of power. It can be perpetrated by anyone, including those who are close to a person or those who have no previous connection to them. Harm includes any behaviour that is harmful to someone’s body, mind or rights, including things the person does themselves. 

Each of the four UK nations has its own statutory definitions of abuse and harm. The categories also vary slightly between the nations, but across the UK there are laws to safeguard people from all forms of harm and abuse. If you are worried about somebody, pass on your concern. The following four categories of harm and abuse are defined in safeguarding law for children and adults across the UK: 

The Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 doesn’t separate child and adult safeguarding. Financial abuse is the fifth category named in this law and it is also named in adult safeguarding laws across the rest of the UK.