Domestic violence is the biggest social issue affecting women in the country today, and every week in England and Wales, two women are killed by a current or former partner

Often, abusive partners start by using more subtle controlling techniques, such as jealousy and possessiveness, which then lead on to physical violence, but these aren't always thought of as domestic abuse. When national domestic violence charity Refuge carried out research recently it showed a lack of awareness among women of the techniques used by violent men to control women.

Ninety five per cent of the respondents surveyed by Refuge recognised physical abuse as domestic violence but only a quarter of respondents understood the more subtle techniques of control, such as jealousy and possessiveness, as indicators of domestic violence. The research also showed that 87 per cent of the women questioned said they received no information about domestic violence when they were at school.

To help combat this lack of information and understanding Refuge has launched a new campaign to raise awareness about the early warning signs of abuse, which will help prevent women from a lifetime of abuse.

Sandra Horley OBE, and chief executive of Refuge, says: 'It is essential that women receive the right education and information so they can understand the techniques of control frequently used by abusive men.

'It's all too easy for women to excuse their partner's possessive and jealous behaviour, but in so doing they run the risk of the abuse increasing in frequency and severity over time. By understanding the signs early a woman is forewarned and forearmed.'

The campaign has support from a number of high-profile individuals, including Cherie Booth QC, Ruby Wax, Jo Brand and Patrick Stewart.

Cherie Booth QC says: 'Refuge's campaign is a warning siren to all women, no matter what their age or background. Everyone has the right to live free from control and violence. Don't ignore the warning signs of domestic violence.'

Another high-profile woman supporting the campaign is actress Roxanne Pallett, who plays Jo Sugden in Emmerdale. In a recent storyline, Jo experiences abuse at the hands of her husband, Andy, and as in real life, the warning signs were evident before the physical violence occurred.

Andy gradually started isolating Jo, stopping her from making friends, questioning her about where she was going and what she was wearing and constantly expecting her to answer for her actions. By the time the physical violence began he already had Jo under his control. Hitting her was yet another technique to make her more frightened, more scared and more alone.

Roxanne says: 'Portraying a victim of domestic violence has been the biggest challenge I have ever faced as an actress. Just playing the role has taken a huge emotional toll on my life, but it is nothing compared to the pain, fear and torment experienced by the hundreds of women Refuge supports every day.

'It's horrific to think that two women are killed every week in England and Wales by their current or former partner, but I truly believe that the more women who know about Refuge's early warning signs campaign, the more lives can be saved.'

What are the early warning signs?

If a woman is forced to change her behaviour for any reason then she is being abused. If she is experiencing any of the following then it's likely that she's being abused:

• Is he jealous and possessive?
• Does he cut her off from family and friends and try to isolate her?
• Is he charming one minute and abusive the next. Does he have sudden changes of mood - like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde?
• Does he control her life? For example money issues, who she should see, what she should wear? Does he monitor her movements?
• Does he blame her for the abuse?
• Does he humiliate or insult her in front of others?
• Does he verbally abuse her?
• Does he constantly criticise her?
• Does he use anger and intimidation to frighten her and make her comply with his demands?
• Does he tell her she's useless and couldn't cope without him?
• Has he threatened to hurt her or people close to her if she leaves?
• Does she change her behaviour to avoid making him angry and triggering an attack?
• Does he force her to have sex when she doesn't want to?

There are also many different ways of being abusive. Here are a few examples:

• Damaging a woman's possessions
• Smashing up the furniture
• Threatening to kill the pets
• Threatening to kidnap or get custody of the children if she leaves
• Locking her out of the house during an argument
• Terrorising her by driving fast or through red lights at high speed because he knows it frightens her

For more information on Refuge and their early warning signs campaign visit www.refuge.org.uk