Spike in abuse as a result of lockdown

A Rutherglen domestic abuse charity has revealed the devastating impact it has faced following the aftermath of Covid-19 and lockown.

Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire (WASLER) saw a spike in request for refuge over the last few months, a trend that is expected to rise when restrictions ease.

The charity said that, during lockdown, many women faced a tougher battle to leave abusive partners due to them using Covid to apply further control – placing both women and their children in danger.

A new report by Scottish Women’s Aid revealed Covid has had an impact on refuge accommodation, child contact and access to justice.

And challenges with staffing, refuge space and funding lie ahead.

WASLER is just one of the organisations which has witnessed a rise in demand for services.

Refuge requests between April and August totalled 70 – a rise of almost six per cent on the same period last year.

May and June saw numbers jump to 16 and 20 respectively with July and August sitting at 17.

However, on the whole the charity says it has been able to accommodate these requests, highlighting the resilience of the organisation under such difficult circumstances.

Interim CEO of WASLER, Heather Williams said: “The current pandemic has increased the risks faced by women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse.

“For those still living with their partner lockdown meant that they were unable to get any respite from their abuser, and perpetrators have used Covid and the restrictions that have been put in place to further exert control this has included physical control.

“This could be stopping partners from going out to shops, isolating them from family and friends, financial control such as stopping child maintenance payments and emotional control.

“But WASLER have continued to provide support to women, children and young people throughout this period and are available for support should anyone require this.”

All of WASLER’s properties are stand alone which means it has not had to reduced its capacity as a result of Covid.

WASLER continued to admit women to refuge throughout the lockdown period and has also supported women to move on from refuge into permanent accommodation during this period.

However, it has not been able to accommodate some requests for refuge, primarily been due to not having properties available in the areas needed.

When this is the case, it has put the individual on the waiting list for accommodation in the requested area.

Nationwide, the average wait was up to 18 months prior to the start of the pandemic.

And the charity fear this delay will now be exacerbated, as most local authorities and housing associations stopped allocating new accommodation during lockdown.

Dr Marsha Scott, chief executive of Scottish Women’s Aid, said: “For women, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse, the pandemic has been particularly difficult and dangerous.

“Our 36 local Women’s Aid groups have responded with a degree of speed, dedication and innovation that is to be commended - especially given that they have done so in the face of difficulties that very often could have been avoided.

“As lockdown and other measures ease, we are expecting a substantial increase in demand for services.

“Urgent action is required by the Scottish Government, the judiciary and local authorities to remedy the problems we’ve set out in this new report.”