Domestic abuse victims in Hartlepool seeing cases delayed 'by years' as pandemic adds to existing justice problems, meeting hears

As reported in the Mail, domestic abuse incidents in Hartlepool reported to police from April to June this year rose by 223, from 764 to 987, compared to the same period in 2019, an increase of 29%.

The number of repeat incidents of domestic abuse also rose, from 333 for the same period last year, to 437, a rise of 31%.

Concerns had previously been raised that domestic abuse could increase again in the second Covid-19 lockdown, as it did during the first.

The figures went before the Hartlepool Borough Council Audit and Governance Committee on Monday, where councillors raised further concerns over domestic abuse incidents.

Cllr Lesley Hamilton noted some victims face long delays in action being taken through the court system, and while Covid-19 has contributed to this, the issue runs further.

She said: “Because of what’s happening with Covid cases are being pushed back, in some cases years, before domestic violence cases are actually getting through the courts.

“I think the increase may also be to do with the fact a lot of victims don’t feel like there’s any progress made, and that’s nothing to do with the police or how they deal with it, it’s just because the courts are so far behind.

“The delays were already well entrenched long before Covid came along. So that may have some indication why figures are higher because victims don’t see any positive change.”

She added she suspects domestic violence issues are going to get ‘a lot worse’ over the Christmas period also.

Cllr Brenda Harrison raised concerns over the impact it can have on families, particularly when children are involved, and specifically highlighted worries over the number of incidents of repeat abuse.

She said: “At the end of the day families are fractured due to this and there’s a whole knock on effect particularity on the children, and often families are broken up because of it.

“I think the repeat abuse, it’s obviously a big problem. That’s what really causes the break up of the families and it just seems to go on and people are born into it and then it’s a cycle, it becomes a whole cycle and that cycle needs to break somewhere.”

Throughout the second quarter of the year, from July to September, there had been a slight decrease in domestic abuse incidents compared to the same period last year.

In total 926 incidents were reported to police during these months, compared to 944 from July to September last year, a drop of 18 incidents and 2%.

Tackling domestic violence is one of the Hartlepool Community Safety Team’s priority areas to focus on during the coming year, and council officers added they are looking at ways to focus on that priority.

Officers also praised Harbour, which provides support for individuals and families affected by abuse, for adopting a number of new ways of working to continue to support those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This includes some ‘extremely successful’ digital work, such as the implementation of a live chat facility which can be accessed via the Harbour website.

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