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| Coronavirus: Domestic abuse calls up 25% since lockdown, charity says | Coronavirus: Domestic abuse calls up 25% since lockdown, charity says |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The National Domestic Abuse helpline has seen a 25% increase in calls and online requests for help since the lockdown, the charity Refuge says. | The National Domestic Abuse helpline has seen a 25% increase in calls and online requests for help since the lockdown, the charity Refuge says. |
| It received hundreds more calls last week compared to two weeks earlier, the charity, which runs the helpline said. | It received hundreds more calls last week compared to two weeks earlier, the charity, which runs the helpline said. |
| Campaigners have warned the restrictions could heighten domestic tensions and cut off escape routes. | Campaigners have warned the restrictions could heighten domestic tensions and cut off escape routes. |
| The charity said pressure on other services and awareness campaigns could have also led to the increase. | The charity said pressure on other services and awareness campaigns could have also led to the increase. |
| One woman, who fled her abuser a few days ago, told the BBC life had become intolerable since the lockdown started. | One woman, who fled her abuser a few days ago, told the BBC life had become intolerable since the lockdown started. |
| 'Tara', who asked the BBC not to use her real name, said she had been suffering mental and physical abuse from her partner for six months. | 'Tara', who asked the BBC not to use her real name, said she had been suffering mental and physical abuse from her partner for six months. |
| When the lockdown began things became markedly worse. | When the lockdown began things became markedly worse. |
| To start with the abuse was subtle: "Isolating me from my family and friends… thinking I'm cheating on him when I'm with him all the time… just controlling". | To start with the abuse was subtle: "Isolating me from my family and friends… thinking I'm cheating on him when I'm with him all the time… just controlling". |
| Her abuser deleted her social media accounts and stopped her from seeing family. | Her abuser deleted her social media accounts and stopped her from seeing family. |
| She says he was "mentally abusive, verbally and obviously hitting me… recently it's obviously been getting worse, since the lockdown." | She says he was "mentally abusive, verbally and obviously hitting me… recently it's obviously been getting worse, since the lockdown." |
| "It's been bad… I didn't care if I didn't wake up like from the night before... I just knew what was going to happen the next day, I just wanted the days to go past." | "It's been bad… I didn't care if I didn't wake up like from the night before... I just knew what was going to happen the next day, I just wanted the days to go past." |
| "As soon as he gets up, he tries to cause an argument out of nothing, and if I fire back he'll just hit me." | "As soon as he gets up, he tries to cause an argument out of nothing, and if I fire back he'll just hit me." |
| Tara has now fled to a refuge in Wales, and is being supported by Llamau, a charity for young people and vulnerable women. | Tara has now fled to a refuge in Wales, and is being supported by Llamau, a charity for young people and vulnerable women. |
| Visits to the UK-wide National Domestic Abuse helpline website for information were 150% higher than during the last week in February, Refuge said. | Visits to the UK-wide National Domestic Abuse helpline website for information were 150% higher than during the last week in February, Refuge said. |
| Another high-profile campaigner, Rachel Williams, believes domestic violence and potentially homicides will escalate as social distancing restrictions in the UK continue. | Another high-profile campaigner, Rachel Williams, believes domestic violence and potentially homicides will escalate as social distancing restrictions in the UK continue. |
| Many perpetrators already use isolation "as a tool of control" Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge said. | Many perpetrators already use isolation "as a tool of control" Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge said. |
| She said last year 1.6 million women in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse, and "while in lockdown or self-isolation, women and children are likely to be spending concentrated periods of time with perpetrators, potentially escalating the threat of domestic abuse and further restricting their freedom. | She said last year 1.6 million women in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse, and "while in lockdown or self-isolation, women and children are likely to be spending concentrated periods of time with perpetrators, potentially escalating the threat of domestic abuse and further restricting their freedom. |
| "Domestic abuse isn't always physical - it's a pattern of controlling, threatening and coercive behaviour, which can also be emotional, economic, psychological or sexual." | "Domestic abuse isn't always physical - it's a pattern of controlling, threatening and coercive behaviour, which can also be emotional, economic, psychological or sexual." |
| Rachel Williams suffered at the hands of her husband for 18 years and when she told him she was leaving he shot her with a sawn-off shotgun. | Rachel Williams suffered at the hands of her husband for 18 years and when she told him she was leaving he shot her with a sawn-off shotgun. |
| "For me the homicide rate is going to go through the roof, and this is what we're anticipating and bracing ourselves for," she told the BBC. | "For me the homicide rate is going to go through the roof, and this is what we're anticipating and bracing ourselves for," she told the BBC. |
| "You can't stop the perpetrator unless he's visible. | "You can't stop the perpetrator unless he's visible. |
| "We'll never eradicate domestic abuse, end of, we've got an epidemic at the moment in the UK, with a pandemic on top." | "We'll never eradicate domestic abuse, end of, we've got an epidemic at the moment in the UK, with a pandemic on top." |
| Police are emphasising that women and men facing abuse at home during the lockdown should still report their experiences to police and seek support from domestic abuse services. | Police are emphasising that women and men facing abuse at home during the lockdown should still report their experiences to police and seek support from domestic abuse services. |
| West Midlands Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe, who leads on domestic abuse for the National Police Chiefs' Council said: "We would always seek to remove the perpetrator... | |
| "Because often victims in their own home where family, friends and neighbours can look out for them are much safer than if we remove them." | "Because often victims in their own home where family, friends and neighbours can look out for them are much safer than if we remove them." |
| Refuge says the helpline is still running 24 hours, seven days a week, with staff operating from home. | Refuge says the helpline is still running 24 hours, seven days a week, with staff operating from home. |
| One effect of being locked down with your abuser could be that not only are people more vulnerable to domestic abuse - but also possibly less likely to be able to make an emergency phone call. | One effect of being locked down with your abuser could be that not only are people more vulnerable to domestic abuse - but also possibly less likely to be able to make an emergency phone call. |
| The National Domestic Abuse Helpline therefore offers the option of contacting them through its website, with a quick exit button which ensures no record of the attempt is left on the phone. | The National Domestic Abuse Helpline therefore offers the option of contacting them through its website, with a quick exit button which ensures no record of the attempt is left on the phone. |
| For Tara, although the abuse worsened when having to spend 24 hours a day in isolation with her partner, she feels the lockdown proved to her that she needed to escape her relationship forever. | For Tara, although the abuse worsened when having to spend 24 hours a day in isolation with her partner, she feels the lockdown proved to her that she needed to escape her relationship forever. |
| For information and support on domestic abuse, contact: | For information and support on domestic abuse, contact: |
| Online webchats and text services are also available. | Online webchats and text services are also available. |