🚨 Acute danger: what to do now
In brief
If you or your children are in immediate danger, do not hesitate to call the police on 110. The police can ensure your safety on the spot – for example by removing the person posing the danger from the home – regardless of whether you want to file a complaint later or not. For advice, even when there is (yet) no acute escalation, the helpline 116 016 is available around the clock and, if needed, will also arrange a place in a women's shelter.
A simple safety plan helps you act faster in an emergency: a set of important documents (ID, the children's birth certificates, residence permit) and some cash in an accessible place that the person posing the danger cannot see; a code word with someone you trust that signals that help is needed; a place to go (neighbours, family, a busy public place).
Step by step
- In immediate danger: 110Call the police. If it is not safe to speak, in many regions a silent emergency call via an emergency app or by hanging up after a short announcement may be enough – find out in advance which options are available in your region.
- Get to safetyIf possible, move yourself and your children to a lockable room, to neighbours or to a busy place before the police arrive.
- Call the helpline116 016 gives advice immediately, also anonymously, and if needed arranges a women's shelter place or a local advice centre.
- Removal order by the policeThe police can remove the person posing the danger from the home on the spot and forbid them to return for a certain period (details: see the separate page on removal orders).
- Document injuriesAs soon as the situation allows: have a doctor examine you and document the injuries (see securing evidence).
- Consider further steps calmlyAn application under the Gewaltschutzgesetz, a criminal complaint or moving to a women's shelter do not have to be decided immediately – an advice centre will support you in weighing them up.
Deadlines
- Do not delete threatening messages, even if they are distressing – they may be important as evidence later.
- If the person posing the danger has access to your phone, shared accounts or location sharing, use a different device for sensitive searches and calls if possible, or delete your browser history.
- After an incident, do not confront the person posing the danger again on your own – get support from the police or an advice centre.
- A call to the helpline does not appear on the phone bill; bear in mind, however, that call logs may remain visible on the device itself.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
What the police do on the scene
After a call-out for domestic violence, the police generally carry out a risk assessment and, if needed, can issue a removal order with a ban on returning. In many Länder the police pass on the contact details of those affected (with their consent or – depending on state rules – as part of proactive disclosure) to a specialised intervention centre, which then gets in touch on its own initiative.
What the helpline does – and does not do
The helpline "Gewalt gegen Frauen" (Violence against Women; 116 016, operated by the Federal Office for Family Affairs and Civil Society Functions, BAFzA) offers advice by phone and online, free of charge, anonymously, in several languages and barrier-free, around the clock on 365 days a year. It is not itself a women's shelter, but if needed refers you to a women's shelter, a specialist advice centre or other local help. For men there is the separate helpline with limited opening hours "Gewalt an Männern" (Violence against Men; 0800 123 99 00, Mon–Thu 8 am–8 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm).
Children in the household
If children are affected by the incident or witnessed it, the youth welfare office (Jugendamt) can be involved in parallel (see the separate page on child protection). This does not rule out protective measures for you yourself, but complements them.
A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.