At home shouldn’t mean at risk, but sadly for many victims of domestic abuse the lockdown has meant that they are trapped in isolation with their abuser under a pressurised situation. Since the UK-wide COVID-19 lockdown began on 23 March 2020, there has been a 49% increase in calls and online requests for help relating to domestic abuse.

The government’s #YouAreNotAlone domestic abuse campaign reassures victims of domestic abuse that there is still help for them during the COVID-19 crisis, and that the household isolation instruction as a result of COVID-19 does not apply if you need to leave your home to escape domestic abuse.

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Domestic abuse is a serious crime with two women a week being killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales. However, anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse, regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality or background. Although the most common type of domestic abuse is within a relationship, the legal definition of domestic abuse also covers “any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse.”