UK REPORTS SURGE IN DOMESTIC ABUSE DURING PANDEMIC

Wed 27 January 2021:

The UK has witnessed remarkable increase in the domestic abuse reports since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said calls by concerned adults to its child welfare hotline have jumped by over 53% over the course of the pandemic.

The NSPCC said it was now receiving more than 30 emergency calls a day, warning that the situation was likely to get worse as the coronavirus lockdown and school closures continue, along with wide restriction on people’s outdoor activities.

Anna Edmundson, NSPCC’s head of policy, said: “The risk of domestic abuse has been heightened in the last nine months with families living under increasing pressure and behind closed doors.”

“To stop the pandemic having a lasting impact on children who suffer in this way it is vital they have access to support in the community to recover and move forward with their lives as not all victims can go to a refuge for support.”

Last year was difficult for us all, & for many children, the pandemic has taken a toll on their mental health. We want to answer every call, reach every child who needs us, & keep adapting. Will you help us? https://t.co/ER9sJcimZ8 pic.twitter.com/ukVIEPWrvO

— NSPCC (@NSPCC) January 22, 2021

In one call to the charity, a member of the public said they heard a couple shouting at one another for several hours a day, often while their children were crying in the background.

He told the NSPCC: “I’ve only really noticed this since I’ve been at home on furlough. I’m worried the kids aren’t being looked after properly.”

People who experience domestic abuse in childhood can experience difficulty of learning, depression, eating disorders and addiction as they go through adolescence and into adulthood, the charity warned.

Abuse incidents also include children’s exposure to violent arguments between their parents.