Inside the crisis - Domestic abuse, the data behind the rise

The Coronavirus crisis has brought with it, both direct and indirect victims. This virus, while attacking some of our society’s most physically vulnerable, has also indirectly attacked those who are now trapped at home with abusers.

During the lockdown (now on its 6th week), levels of reported domestic abuse cases have seen a monumental increase. One domestic abuse charity, Refuge, reporting a 700% increase to its helpline in a single day.

Connexus’s very own Shropshire based domestic abuse service (SDAS) has seen a slight increase in website traffic (year on year for April), yet not to the same magnitude as figures reported by Refuge and perhaps somewhat intriguingly, referrals to the service remain at pre lockdown levels. We're about to question some of the headlines and delve into what the data's predicting could happen with what experts are referring to as a “post lockdown surge”.

Why is this? Well, the very nature of a lockdown means that abusers and those being abused are together. They’re together without any restpite, and so, making referrals becomes more difficult. Perhaps a brief website search or a phone-call but not a referral. These it’s predicted will come once we see a relaxation of the lockdown measures when those being abused are granted more time outside of their home.

Elaine De Fries, Director of operations at The Pankhurst Trust, which incorporates Manchester Women’s Aid talking to Good House Keeping describes the scenario in harrowing detail;

Countries who have already come out of lockdown are now reporting significant spikes in referrals once restrictions are lifted. And as a recent New York Times article highlights; post lockdown, we’re then also likely to see an increase yet again due to triggers such as abusers losing their jobs or suffering a series of financial setbacks and thus more likely to abuse their partners. 

As we look towards the end of lockdown, services are planning for what they are predicting to be the first of 2 surges in referrals to their services. The first serge will come once less stringent measures are in place. Services like SDAS are already working to both increase accommodation capacity and resources more generally, including staffing but also those around Outreach support.

The second wave is anticipated when schools return to normal. Children from abusive households, who've perhaps been less viable during lockdown would now back into systems where once again, concerns and subsequent referrals can be made.

Wendy and the team at SDAS are anticipating a rise not only in referrals but also the severity of the conditions of those escaping their abusers;