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Charity Refuge has seen a dramatic spike in victims contacting them for support (Picture: Shutterstock)

Visits to domestic abuse website increase by nearly 1,000% in lockdown

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Calls to a domestic abuse helpline have increased by two-thirds since the beginning of lockdown, while website visits have increased nearly ten-fold.

Domestic abuse charity Refuge said it has seen a 66% increase in callers using its 24-hour 0808 2000 247 helpline. Visits to its website have also jumped by 950% since the nation was told to ‘stay at home’ on March 23 amid the pandemic.

Lockdown restrictions have meant that thousands of women and children across the UK have ended up trapped inside for hours every day with abusive partners. Refuge said that lockdown itself doesn’t cause domestic abuse but the conditions can ‘aggravate pre-existing behaviours in abusive partners’.

Earlier this month the government pledged £76 million of funding to support domestic and sexual abuse charities following a spike in cases reported during lockdown. The funding will also ensure that those at risk get priority housing under a new law, so ‘no victim will have to stay somewhere unsafe or become homeless’.

Refuge said it supports more than 6,500 women and children daily and chief executive Sandra Horley wants other women who may not have sought help yet, to know that support is available.

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Ms Horley said: ‘Right now women’s lives depend on them being able to access the specialist services Refuge provides, and now, more than ever, we must continue to provide the confidential support needed.

‘While lockdown itself does not cause domestic abuse, it can aggravate pre-existing behaviours in abusive partners. Women up and down the country are isolated with abusive partners – and children will be witnessing and in some cases experiencing domestic abuse.

‘This is a terrifying ordeal and Refuge wants women to know they are not alone.’

The charity offers safe emergency accommodation in secret locations, independent advocacy support for women at risk of serious violence, and a modern slavery service.

It comes after it was revealed last week that domestic abuse against the elderly has increased by a third during lockdown.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) executive director, Melanie Field, said calls to helplines from elderly victims had risen by 30%, while reports involving the over 65s had gone up by 37%.

LGBT+ people were also in danger during lockdown, as they were experiencing threats of ‘outing’, she added.

Security Minister James Brokenshire also announced the Government is looking at implementing a ‘key word’ system to help victims alert people like shopworkers during a rare trip outside the home that they need help.

Last week, director of public prosecutions Max Hill QC said domestic abuse cases are among those being treated ‘as a priority’.

He told the Commons Justice Committee: ‘We are as alarmed as anybody by the very difficult position that, in the main, women are put in, particularly in some communities, in enforced lockdown.

‘It is very important that we say publicly that we are there to deal with those cases.’

A selection of domestic and sexual abuse helplines:

Official advice on what to do if you’re in danger or believe you are about to be can be found on the government website here. Call 999 if you’re in immediate danger.

Refuge’s freephone helpline provides confidential support in many different languages 24 hours a day.

Women’s Aid offers a live chat service available Mondays to Fridays between 10am and 12pm, as well as an online survivor’s forum.

The charity’s Survivor’s Handbook provides information on housing, money, helping your children and your legal rights.

Victim Support runs a 24/7 telephone service for victims of crimes including domestic abuse, along with 24/7 live chat support available across England and Wales.

The Wales Live Fear Free Helpline offers help and advice about violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence in Wales.

Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline offers a 24/7 helpline.

The Hourglass confidential helpline provides information and support to anyone concerned about harm, abuse or exploitation of an older person.

The Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.

Galop’s National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline offers support to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

Stay Safe East provides advocacy and support services to victims with disabilities.

SignHealth provides domestic abuse service support for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL).

Ashiana Sheffield focus on helping black, Asian and minority ethnic women and girls.

Imkaan addresses violence against black and minority women and girls.

Southall Black Sisters offers advocacy and information to Asian and Afro-Caribbean women suffering abuse.

The Latin American Women’s Rights Service and the Latin American Women’s Aid provide support services for Latin American women suffering from domestic abuse.

Iranian Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation provides services for Middle Eastern, North African and Afghan women and girls who are living in the UK suffering from domestic abuse, forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and honour-based abuse.

The Muslim Women’s Network Helpline is a national specialist faith and culturally sensitive helpline that is confidential and free to access.

Karma Nirvana runs a national helpline for victims of honour-based abuse, forced marriage and domestic abuse.

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