"It is the tip of the iceberg" - concerns for women's safety after lockdown spike in domestic violence

Leeds Women's Aid and the police say calls to report incidents have dropped as people are trapped in their homes with their abuser and feel unable to ask for help yet the lockdown will have led to more incidents.

In the last few weeks, while there has been a 50 per cent increase in people contacting Leeds Women's Aid, concerns have been raised for the many women, and men, who will still be experiencing harm but daren't speak out.

Nik Peasgood, chief executive of the charity which was set up in 1972, said: "The police have noted there has not been a huge increase in reports to them and on our helpline, numbers were low but a few weeks in, we started to see an increase.

"There was a 50 per cent increase to the helpline compared to when lockdown started and there has been an increase in requests for refuge provision. The majority of women that are experiencing violent abuse are not getting in touch. There is no way we can be working with everyone. It is the tip of the iceberg and we are very concerned that some women are not making contact at all."

Ms Peasgood told the Yorkshire Evening Post, as it looks at the effects that coronavirus is having on social inequality, that the pressures of lockdown such as job loss, financial strain, anxiety and having to stay at home and socially distance as instructed by the government guidelines had created the perfect storm and being together 24/7 made it harder to seek help.

"It is very difficult for people trapped in lockdown with their abuser. It is the worst thing that could happen. Normally you can leave the house to go to work or the shops or school. When lockdown came in, we expected the reduction in the number of calls because if you are in the house with your abuser, you are unable to make that call without being heard."

Calls are also coming in, not from people in the same house, but those that are being stalked or manipulated by abusers finding a way around the lockdown restrictions.

Like many other organisations, due to social distancing, the organisation has had to find new ways of working and in the last few weeks a messenger style live chat helpline, which is open each day between 1pm and 3pm, has been set up. It is proving a popular tool for women to get in touch with staff at Leeds Women's Aid as they can do it more discreetly. It doesn't show in your phone history and if you contact it outside of these hours, leave a message and someone will get back to you.

The police are also being pro-active in contacting people they know are at risk and will respond to domestic violence calls and remove abusers.

"It is not something we have done before but seems to be working quite well and we have got extra funding to make sure we can carry on with that and see where we can extend it. It is a really good way of being able to make contact and you can do it on your phone or tablet."

Women are being urged to get in touch if they need to flee to safety as, despite refuges being busy and social distancing, "there is always something that can be done".

Leeds City Council is working with Leeds Women's Aid to arrange accommodation whether that be emergency rooms in hotels, a refuge or safe houses and just last week, Ms Peasgood said despite the social distancing they managed to get a vulnerable woman, who was very upset, to a safe property and do the usual paperwork and introductions.

She added: "It is really important that people know they don't have to stay if they don't want to. If it is not always possible to go straight into a refuge or safe house, the local authority are temporarily housing people and trying to find other places. There is always something that we can do."

The helpline for Leeds Women's Aid is open 24 hours a day and is 0113 246 0401. Someone from Glasgow called it recently as they were struggling to find anything open locally.

Ms Peasgood said: "That first contact is the hardest thing to do. You don't know who is on the other end or what reaction you will get. Just being listened to and believed can be so empowering and liberating."

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