Police ready to respond to increase in domestic abuse incidents amid Covid-19 restrictions

Northamptonshire Police are ready to respond quickly and robustly to reports of domestic abuse incidents in the face of Covid-19 restrictions.

In China, police reports show domestic violence increased when restrictions were imposed and exacerbated household tensions due to forced coexistence, economic stress and understandable fears about the virus.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Glenn, who is the force lead for adult safeguarding, said:

“The controls the government has put in place to protect people from the virus can unfortunately impact on victims of domestic violence. We wholeheartedly support the need to follow measures of social distancing and isolation but we recognise these restrictions may give rise to an increase in domestic abuse and we are more than ready to respond.

“Our first priority is to protect victims and any children present but we also urge perpetrators to seek help and maybe this period of enforced restriction is a good opportunity to think about the root causes of violent or controlling behaviour – there are many ways to get help and support in order to understand and change the way you behave, to give you a better chance of fixing your relationship with your partner and protecting any children in your household.

“The most important message I want to convey is that, in the face of the current challenges presented by Covid-19 and fast-moving developments, we are not taking our eye off the ball. Tackling domestic abuse is a force priority and that hasn’t changed. I urge people to keep an eye out for their neighbours and for anybody affected to get help. There is a wealth of support available.”

For help and advice got to: https://www.northants.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/

To access a perpetrator programme, contact Respect – the national association for domestic violence perpetrator programmes and associated support services.

If you're a victim of domestic abuse, or know someone who is and there's an emergency that's ongoing or life is in danger, call 999 now. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS serviceExternal Link.

In non-emergency cases and for general advice, please call 101. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service on 18001 101.

You can also call the national 24-hour domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247.

The following links offer guidance and advice.

www.voicenorthants.org - Tel: 0300 303 1965

[email protected] - Tel: 01604 888211

www.ndas.co - Tel: 0300 012 0154

https://eveda.org.uk/contact/  EVE - A domestic abuse service providing women and family refuge, supported programmes and training and consultancy. Tel: 01604 230311.