In this difficult time, the Government is asking everyone to stay at home … to be safe. However, we know that ‘home’ is not always safe for many adults and children.
With being physically isolated, victims of domestic abuse are at increased risk.
In some families, there will be increased pressure within the family ‘home’ with strained family relationships as well as financial pressure. This pressure can be seen in many, many different ways, some including placing both adults and children at risk – both physically and emotionally.
Protective factors for victims, including children, during this current time due to enforced isolation, cannot be present: grandparents, neighbours, school, friendships groups and out of school clubs. Many adults and children are isolated with their abuser.
Despite the reports which say that the the incidents for Domestic Abuse have not been increasing in the last few weeks, it is thought that this is not reality. With the known strain on emergency services across the country at this time, with the very bravery needed to actually report an incident, it is predicted that incidents are not being reported.
Domestic abuse affects people of all ages, genders, sexualities, cultures, and levels of income.
There are many confidential helplines which can be contacted during this really challenging times:
FIRSTLIGHT –
https://www.firstlight.org.uk/
020 7683 1270 (they will find support services locally, so don’t worry about the London phone number)
If you are in danger, please call the Police on 999 immediately or 101 in a non-emergency. If you ring 999 but can’t talk, make sure the Police know you are there by coughing or tapping the handset, or by dialling 55.
Find out more about the support that Operation Encompass works with school settings, to support your children: https://www.operationencompass.org/
The 10 principles of Operation Encompass”
“Operation Encompass ensures there is a simple phone call or notification, to a trained member of school staff, before a child arrives in school. The call or notification is triggered by police recently attending the child’s home or being involved in a domestic abuse incident, that the child has experienced.”
Taken from ‘Safelives; ending domestic abuse’
On average high-risk victims live with domestic abuse for 2.3 years and medium risk victims for 3 years before getting help
On average victims experience 50 incidents of abuse before getting effective help
A third (34%) of children in high-risk domestic abuse households are not known to children’s social care
Safer Cornwall –
An information website about Advice regarding Domestic Abuse in Cornwall
Stay Safe
Statutory
Reporting
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