Leeds domestic abuse victims urged to get help as stats reveal extent of problem

Nearly 20,000 "domestic incidents" were reported to the police in the 12 months up to September this year, according to a new report, with officers receiving 53 calls on average every day in the city.

The Domestic Violence and Abuse Breakthrough Project 2017 document, which will be discussed today by Leeds City Council’s Executive Board, shows the work that the authority and its partner agencies have carried out over the last year or so to try and stem the problem.

But an increase in such behaviour is expected over the Christmas period.

Louise Hackett, head of safeguarding at Safer Leeds, said: “We always get spikes, but services are open – certainly LDVS [Leeds Domestic Violence Service] over the Christmas period – and police are available for contact. I would always encourage people.

“Often it’s that people hold it together over Christmas and don’t seek support until the new year. People with children try and manage over Christmas.”

The report also reveals that 44.5 per cent of the 19,591 reported incidents involved repeat victims, with 47 per cent (9,211 incidents) being violent in nature. (Coercive and controlling behaviour which is not necessarily physically violent became an offence in December 2015.)

A child was present in nearly 6,000 of the instances, with women being the victim in 13,781 of the cases (76.7 per cent) and men in 3,746 (20.8 per cent) of them.

The Domestic Violence and Abuse Breakthrough Project, which has been taking place in Leeds for more than a year, works with different communities and organisations across the city.

From March 2016, a range of statutory bodies responsible for tackling domestic abuse in the city have met daily for the Front Door Safeguarding Hub (FDSH) instead of just monthly as in previous years.

They discuss pressing cases and incidents which have happened with the aim of intervening early to help those involved – sometimes signposting services to those in police custody – and deciding which service best suits the victim to avoid the confusing process of many people getting in touch.

Coun Lisa Mulherin believes that this approach “puts the pieces of the jigsaw together” in a system which over previous years meant “weeks” could go by without relevant authorities speaking to each other about cases.

And the council’s executive member for children and families said that the new approach tries to tackle something that has been a “taboo for generations”.

She said: “The figures speak for themselves. We know this is a huge issue globally, never mind in Leeds. We’re determined to do what we can to stop this happening in Leeds.