Hundreds more domestic abuse cases reported in Hartlepool during first lockdown - with fears for victims during Lockdown 2

Cllr Shane Moore, Hartlepool Borough Council leader, stressed the importance of providing enhanced support to victims of domestic abuse amidst fears incidents could increase in the coming weeks, as it did during the initial Covid-19 lockdown.

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%

Cllr Moore acknowledged although figures indicated domestic abuse incidents decreased during the period from July to September, they could rise again due to another lockdown.

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Speaking to the Safer Hartlepool Partnership, he therefore stressed they need to do ‘everything they can’ to signpost support services to those in need.

Cllr Moore said: “The biggest concern obviously is the domestic violence figures, especially during the first quarter.

“I appreciate they did drop during quarter two but what concerns me most is that we are now effectively in a second lockdown, and I worry that those figures are going to increase again.

“It’s really important that as a borough council and partners that we do everything we can to try and signpost those victims and potential victims right now, during a time that is of increased vulnerability for them.

“That’s the right thing to do, we need to signpost people and make services as accessible as possible right now in a potential time of need.”

The domestic abuse figures formed part of a report from the Hartlepool Community Safety Team, which went before the Safer Hartlepool Partnership on Friday.

It noted research conducted by domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid and the BBC’s Panorama programme has identified that UK Police forces received one domestic abuse call every 30 seconds in the first seven weeks of lockdown.

The highest number of incidents in Hartlepool were reported in May, 355, with 293 reported in April and 339 in June, according to the report.

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

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%.

There were also 61 less incidents reported during the period from July to September, compared to April to June this year, a drop of 6%.

Officers also noted Harbour, which provides support for individuals and families affected by abuse, has adopted 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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