Domestic abuse perpetrators are using symptoms to avoid arrest as increase is expected in Hampshire

It comes as politicians warn that home is ‘unlikely to be a safe place’ for people - the majority of them women - now in lockdown with abusive partners.

Home secretary Priti Patel has said victims can leave their homes to go to a refuge.

As of Monday nine people had died in domestic killings in Britain. A family-of-four were found dead yesterday in Woodmancote, in West Sussex.

Workers in Portsmouth have been left coming up with ‘creative ways’ to speak with and support victims, Shonagh Dillon from Aurora New Dawn has said.

In a post on the organisation’s website, the chief executive said: ‘Isolation is a key tactic of abusers, so the self-isolation of their victims with full state approval is a lottery win to them.

‘We know it will increase the risk to victims, we know perpetrators are already using symptoms as an excuse not to be arrested.’

A Hampshire police spokesman said: ‘If it is necessary for police to arrest and detain someone then they will do so. The police will not stop arresting people.’

Aurora has now set up a 24-hour internal phone line for police to refer victims to them. It was set up as the domestic abuse workers cannot go out with police as usual during the pandemic.

Shonagh said her team of 20 women is ‘inspiring’ but added: ‘Right now it feels like we are having to watch our clients through a window.

‘We can’t get to them as easily as we usually can and if we do there are now only two choices: leave or stay.’

Hampshire police have said its officers are expecting an increase in incidents due to the lockdown, imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Charity Stop Domestic Abuse posted on Facebook and said: ‘Our refuges are open. If you need refuge accommodation please call us on 0330 016 5112.’

Councillor Judith Grajewski, from Hampshire County Council, said: ‘During this period of social distancing and social isolation for those families affected by domestic abuse, the home is unlikely to be a safe place.’

She added: ‘Domestic abuse is unacceptable in any situation

On Friday assistant chief constable Scott Chilton told The News: ‘The evidence from China is that domestic abuse did rise, so of course it’s quite possible that those situations could occur.

‘What we would do in those circumstances is remind people that they can contact the police on 999 in an emergency, but if they’re not in a position to, they can find lots of information (on our website).

‘It’s a realistic assumption that there will be an increase in domestic violence.

‘If neighbours are concerned - or relatives are for a member of their family - about a situation where they're more vulnerable to domestic abuse then get in touch.’

Support lines

Portsmouth Women's Refuge – (023) 9229 1034

Aurora New Dawn – (023) 9247 9254, Portsmouth only.

Stop Domestic Abuse – Hampshire – 03300 165112, and Portsmouth – (023) 9206 5494.

Hampshire County Council - 03300 165 112, between 11.30am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday.

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