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Lockdown sees domestic abuse calls surge

NELC issue redundancies to senior social support workers

Lockdown sees domestic abuse calls surge

The National Domestic Abuse Helpline has reported seeing a 65% surge in calls and reports of domestic abuse following the announcement of the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown.

Under new measures, everybody in the UK has been told to remain at home indefinitely, except for to purchase essentials, visit medical professionals, for essential work, or for one form of exercise per day.

Under normal conditions, victims of domestic abuse would be able to seek help outside the home or at work. They might have been able to stay with friends or family when things got too difficult. However many are now stuck in the same space as their abuser.

The UK government have acknowledged that recent measures announced to tackle coronavirus, such as the order to stay at home, may cause anxiety for those who are experiencing or feel at risk of domestic abuse.

Police have also warned that the measures have made victims more vulnerable. They said that health concerns and job losses may also add pressure, causing some people to experience abuse for the first time.

As such, Home Secretary Priti Patel has said that domestic abuse victims are allowed to leave home to seek help at refuges irrespective of rules put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus:

“I am acutely aware that the necessary guidelines about social distancing and self-isolation may leave the victims of hidden crime, such as domestic abuse and child sexual abuse, feeling especially isolated, vulnerable and exposed,” said Ms Patel, in her newspaper column.

Whilst our advice is to stay at home, anyone who is at risk of, or experiencing, domestic abuse, is still able to leave and seek refuge. Refuges remain open, and the police will provide support to all individuals who are being abused – whether physically, emotionally, or otherwise

My message to every potential victim is simple: we have not forgotten you and we will not let you down.

And my message to every perpetrator is equally as simple: you will not get away with your crimes” she added.

Refuge said staff were “working round the clock” to make sure services remained open.

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