Covid makes life dangerous for domestic abuse victims
● Women and children unable find safe haven from abusers in lockdown
The coronavirus pandemic has made life “particularly difficult and dangerous” for women and children exper i e nci ng domestic a buse, according to a new report.
The r esearch f r om S cottish Women’s Aid found the pandemic has r esult ed i n “increased risks of harm” for them and made seeking help more difficult.
For women experiencing domestic abuse and still living with their abuser, lockdown meant spending extended periods of time confined at home with the abuser with little opportunity to call supportive family, friends or organisations, while children were left without their usual safe spaces during school closures.
The new report, based on surveys of Scottish Women’s Aid 36- member service providers in June, found the pandemic has had huge impacts on refuge accommodation, child contact and access to justice. The charity is calling for “urgent action” to tackle the problems.
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 l o ckdown and ot her 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 and to facilitate effective service provision.
“Better planning is also needed so that, if lockdown measures continue to be required going forward, previous problems affecting domestic abuse service providers and survivors will not be repeated.”
The research found pandemic- related safety measures had decreased emergency refuge spaces, and many local Women’s Aid groups report t he need for refuge is far outstripping capacity.
The report said many local authorities and housing associations stopped allocating new homes during lockdown.
Abuses of child visitation and contact arrangements we r e s e e n a c r o s s ma n y regions while handovers for child visits have also become increasingly dangerous for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
The report said hanges to the criminal justice system, such as the increased use of undertakings and bail, had resulted in greater risks to women whose abusers might ordinarily have been remanded in custody. It also warned the backlog of cases resulting from the closure of courts would have
an ongoing and debilitating effect on women’s access to justice.
The c hari t y has made a number o f r e c o mmendations, including calling for an urgent review of specialist refuge accommodation to ensure sufficient provision, and action by schools to support children with experience of domestic abuse.
Equalities minister Christina Mckelvie MSP said: “I will be considering the recommendations within this report carefully, and we will continue to work with Scottish Women’s Aid and others to ensure we support and protect women and children experiencing domestic abuse.”