relationship

Coronavirus and Domestic Abuse

For many people home is not a safe place. With an increasing number of people working from home, self or household isolating and social distancing, as well as uncertainty over the implications on finances and jobs and the loss of regular routines, there could be increased risks within the home through domestic abuse.

The domestic abuse support services have adapted the way they deliver support, to be able to be as accessible as possible by telephone and email (if it is safe to do so) and there is also a wealth of information about safety planning and options online. Safety planning involves thinking through different scenarios as to how a domestic incident may begin so that you can be prepared and able to react to different situations. This can include identifying a safe place in your home where you can call the police, avoiding particularly dangerous areas of the house and ensuring you have access to a mobile phone to call for help (click here for more information).

For those who are aware that a family member, friend, neighbour or work colleague are living with domestic abuse, if it is safe to do so, please speak to the person and discuss how you could support them in keeping safe. This could involve checking with them regularly so that they are not isolated from support and discussing how they could let you know if they are in danger and need your help, for example by them texting you a code word to let you know they are, or aren’t safe.

Useful Local Contact Details
Stop Domestic Abuse (Hampshire): 0330 0165112; email advice@stopdomesticabuse.uk
Nepali domestic and sexual abuse service:07741 261387; email ask@citizensadvicerushmoor.org.uk ; www.citizensadvicerushmoor.org.uk
Hampton Trust (perpetrator interventions): 02380 009898; dapp.spoc@hamptontrust.cjsm.net; www.hamptontrust.org.uk
Basingstoke Housing Options: 01256 844844; www.basingstoke.gov.uk
Hart Council Housing Options: 01252 774420; www.hart.gov.uk
Rushmoor Council Housing Options: 01252 398634; www.rushmoor.gov.uk
Citizens Advice Rushmoor: 0300 3309046; www.citizensadvicerushmoor.org.uk (webchat and email options available)
Citizens Advice Hart: 03444 111 306; www.citizensadvicehart.org.uk
Citizens Advice Basingstoke: 0300 3309064 (for Basingstoke area) or 03444 111 306 (for Tadley area), www.basingstokeandtadleycab.org.uk

National Domestic Abuse Helplines and websites
24 hour Domestic Abuse helpline (female victims): 0808 2000247; www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Male Advice line: 0808 8010327; www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Mankind Initiative: 01823 334244; www.mankind.org.uk
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse helpline: 0800 9995428; www.galop.org.uk
Respect National helpline (perpetrator help): 0808 8024040; www.respect.uk.net