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29
Jul 2021
Domestic abuse referrals in North Yorkshire increase by 80 per cent
The number of referrals for domestic abuse help in York and North Yorkshire has risen by 80 per cent.
It means the number of victims seeking help from community-based support services has risen by about 4,000 people since 2019.
Trained staff working as independent domestic abuse advisors, who help victims, have much higher caseloads and some have handed in their notice, a public accountability meeting held by the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner heard this week.
Police data shows there were 1,917 domestic abuse crimes reported in the Harrogate district between January 2020 and June 2021.
Police and domestic abuse support organisations have continued to support victims throughout the pandemic through calls and online services, by arranging court orders remotely and by using extra government funding used to employ more advisors.
Jenni Newberry, head of commissioning at the office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:
She said people also tend to need more intensive support during the pandemic because of other issues, including court delays and the need to spend more time with the perpetrator of the abuse in lockdown.
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But she added that one “positive” is that people have responded well to the support.
Pressure on the system
Ms Newberry said advisors had seen their average caseloads increase significantly from 56 clients in April 2020 to 76 in April 2021.
Extra funding from the Ministry of Justice has enabled the service to employ more domestic abuse advisors and Ms Newberry added:
Meanwhile, there was an increase in children committing offences against parents during lockdown, North Yorkshire Police detective superintendent Allan Harder said.
He said one reason was that children wanted to leave home when restrictions were in place and this led to arguments.
He added:
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