YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Priti Patel unveils £2m boost to help domestic abuse victims ‘trapped in horrific cycle’ as calls to helpines double
DOMESTIC abuse reports have more than doubled since families were confined to home by the coronavirus crisis, Priti Patel revealed yesterday.
The Home Secretary pledged £2million towards helplines for the thousands of victims trapped in a “horrific cycle” since the lockdown began three weeks ago.
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She also warned thug partners: “You will not get away with it” as she urged watchful neighbours across the UK to “help those suffering from domestic abuse”.
It also emerged that crime had fallen by a fifth so far during lockdown compared to last year despite a rise in fraud.
Police also vowed to keep fining Brits who leave home for no good reason, risking spread of the killer.
Ms Patel told yesterday’s Downing Street press conference that calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline rocketed 120 per cent in just one 24-hour period last week.
She unveiled a #YouAreNotAlone campaign to help those stuck indoors with an abusive partner designed to show victims how they can safely report abuse.
Our message is clear and simple . . . you are not alone and you are not on your own
The public have been asked to demonstrate solidarity by sharing a photo of a heart on their palm, and asking others to do the same to convey to perpetrators that domestic abuse is unacceptable.
Ms Patel added: “For the victims of these crimes, home is not the safe haven it should be.
“Our message is clear and simple . . . you are not alone and you are not on your own.
“And our message to the abusers and the perpetrators of these crimes is equally as clear — you will not get away with the crimes that you are committing.”
She went on: “I’ve been working with law enforcement, charities, schools, businesses and local councils to address this changing threat picture. Coronavirus has opened Britain’s enormous heart and shown our love and compassion for one another as we come together to help those in need.
“I am now asking our nation to embrace that compassion and community spirit to help those suffering from domestic abuse.”
She said that abuse victims should call 999 in an emergency or press 55 on a phone if they are not able to talk.
She added: “Our outstanding police will still be there for you.”
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The Home Secretary told the conference: “Our new campaign will absolutely highlight the support available to victims of domestic abuse.
“That advice of staying home, obviously if you are at risk, does not apply and that there is a safe place for you to go to.”
The publicised support will include the free 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline number — 0808 2000 247 — run by Refuge.
The press conference also heard that police had seen a 21 per cent fall in overall crime in the last four weeks compared to the same period last year as Brits keep to lockdown guidelines.
However, fraudsters were adapting to take advantage of the crisis.
Ms Patel said confined Brits had so far been conned out of more than £1.8million.
She added: “Fraudsters are exploiting coronavirus as a hook for new acquisitive crimes.”
'POLICING BY CONSENT'
Ms Patel, who has largely been absent from the Government’s public response to the health emergency, also warned that paedophiles were seeking to exploit the fact that children are increasingly going online to meet friends and do school lessons on their computers.
She said: “The perpetrators of sickening online child abuse are seeking to exploit the fact that more and more young people and children are at home and online.”
On tackling lockdown rebels, she said officers would rely on “policing by consent” but were “unafraid” to fine people for leaving their home without good reason.
Martin Hewitt, Chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said forces had been handing out more than 80 fines a day.
He said 1,084 had been issued so far across 37 police forces in England and Wales.
He said the number of penalties doled out indicated that the “overwhelming majority of people are staying at home to save lives”.
Mr Hewitt added: “We have new responsibilities as part of the Government response to the virus, which we will use carefully.
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“However, we have had a small minority of people who, despite our best efforts, have refused to follow instructions.”
He later added that “anybody can transmit the virus” and said: “Everybody needs to be responsible and we will engage with them to help them be responsible.”
He also warned that people could also face arrest if officers suspected “other activity” as well as social distancing violations.
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