We have reported several times on the increase in domestic abuse incidents during the coronavirus lockdown. People in abusive relationships are clearly under intense pressure from their abuser when forced to live side by side under lockdown restrictions, and as the containment measures continue into their ninth week and beyond the stresses and strains will inevitably get worse.
In recognition of this problem in early May the government announced a £76 million fund, to be made available to specialist organisations working to address domestic violence. The government also revealed that women escaping domestic abuse would be classified as having priority housing needs. Previously they could risk making themselves homeless by walking out on an abusive partner. The new funds available included a £10 million provision for safe accommodation, in part to redress the cutbacks to frontline services made over the last few years.
In a separate initiative, supermarket chain Morrisons has announced plans to provide safe space areas where abuse victims can contact support services for help while they are away from the controlling influence of their abuser. Consulting rooms in pharmacies within 117 branches of Morrisons will become the safe spaces where specially trained pharmacy staff will direct abuse victims to the help they need. A similar scheme was launched by Boots at the beginning of May, in conjunction with Hestia, a charity which supports victims of domestic abuse across London and the South-East.
The government is currently in discussions to introduce a “codeword” scheme, whereby abuse victims could use a specific word or phrase to alert trained shop workers to the danger they are in. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has recently held a Hidden Harms Summit meeting with charities and support groups, to look at issues such as domestic abuse, sexual abuse and modern slavery, all of which may have been impacted by the lockdown restrictions.
These initiatives are helping to address the problems of domestic abuse during the lockdown. Welcome as they are, domestic abuse charity Refuge has again announced huge increases in phone calls and visits to its website by worried victims. Refuge revealed that in the last three weeks calls to its helpline went up by 66%, and over the last fortnight website traffic increased by a massive 957%. These figures underline the scale of the problem we currently face. The moves to relax the restrictions on work and movement should help to ease the pressure, but the underlying issues within each abusive relationship will remain.
Contact Refuge on 0808 2000 247, or https://www.refuge.org.uk/
If you are in immediate danger, you should dial 999, press 55 when prompted if you can’t speak.
It can be stressful and complicated when relationships break down. Bretherton Law’s experienced Family and Child Law Solicitors have been helping people with changes in their circumstances for over 50 years. We are members of Resolution and Accredited in Family Law by the Law Society. For honest, sympathetic advice call Atifha Aftab on 01727 869293, or make an appointment via our website: https://brethertonlaw.co.uk/
It can be stressful and complicated when relationships break down. Bretherton Law’s experienced Family and Child Law Solicitors have been helping people with changes in their circumstances for over 50 years. We are members of Resolution and Accredited in Family Law by the Law Society. For honest, sympathetic advice call Atifha Aftab on 01727 869293, or request an appointment using the form below.
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