Havant domestic abuse charity seeing 5 times as many abuse referrals compared to last year

Stop Domestic Abuse in Havant has seen a massive increase in referrals for help during and following the Covid-19 lockdown and are now supporting 37 per cent more clients than in 2019.

It comes as figures show there were 3,316 arrests in Hampshire for domestic abuse-related crimes between April and June, when the toughest national Covid-19 restrictions were imposed.

Separate statistics from the Office for National Statistics suggest domestic abuse crimes were already rising in Hampshire before the pandemic struck.

Charity chief executive Claire Lambon said: ‘Each year thousands of people stand up, speak out and say no to violence

against women.

‘This year is more important than ever with a significant increase in violence and abuse towards women during the coronavirus pandemic.’

Now the charity has joined the national Labyrinth Project, a network of support services across the UK, to help 20,000 women who have experienced abuse during the Covid-19 lockdown.

It has been given a £1.6m cash boost, funded from the tampon tax, to provide a wide range of holistic support.

Claire said: ‘Stop Domestic Abuse is delighted to be part of this national project. We are looking forward to working with `sister` organisations across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland to deliver a national response to support women to emerge stronger from the damage that the Covid-19 pandemic is having on women’s lives.

‘The Grants Scheme and Centre of Excellence will build capacity, supporting the sustainability of the women’s sector for the future and the project will join up expertise across legal, economic, social and community structures.’

SEE ALSO: Services for domestic abuse victims in Portsmouth to merge

Chief executive at Solace, the group leading the national project, Fiona Dwyer added: ‘Only the Tampon Tax fund could meet the scale of our ambitions and we thank the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for their insight and confidence in enabling Solace and our incredible partners to create lasting changes to the lives of over 20,000 women across three nations.’

All of Stop Domestic Abuse’s Refuges remain open and can be accessed at any time by calling 033 0016 5112 and following the answerphone instructions.

If you live in Portsmouth call 02392 065494.

For more information visit stopdomesticabuse.uk

In an emergency call 999 and press 55 if you can’t talk (only on mobile phones)

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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