Abused women ‘killed’

THE number of women killed by domestic violence has risen to three a week during lockdown, it has been revealed, writes Tom Dare.

Birmingham’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) said he believes the real figure could be even higher and has urged victims not to hesitate in contacting police.

Maureen Connolly, chief executive of Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid (BSWA), said the number of women killed every week by domestic abuse has risen from two to three since lockdown began, with 24 domestic abuse-related homicides in the first seven weeks.

She also revealed of the 4,108 reports of domestic abuse between March 23 and April 26, 58 per cent of victims refused to help police with their probe, suggesting coercive control could be a factor. “At the start, it was really difficult for women to call at all, numbers went down across the country. (Local Democracy Reporting Service)