Campaign to tackle domestic abuse fears
A NEW campaign will be launched today to make sure victims and survivors of domestic abuse know they can access support.
The campaign will also encourage bystanders to recognise the signs of domestic abuse, and to seek support for those who are unable to get help themselves.
During the coronavirus lockdown, the number of domestic abuse homicides has increased. Social isolation has made it easier for abusers to control their victims, and more difficult for victims to seek help while they are under the scrutiny of their abusers.
Welsh Government Deputy Minister and Chief Whip Jane Hutt said: “I’m launching the ‘Home shouldn’t be a place of fear’ campaign today to let victims of violence and abuse know that we are here to help.
“Shop assistants, postal workers, delivery drivers, community volunteers, friends and neighbours might be a victim’s only point of contact during coronavirus lockdown, so it’s really important that they can recognise the signs of domestic abuse. I would urge you all to be more vigilant at this time – support is available.
“We know that the current situation has increased the risk for victims. Now is a very frightening time. Whether you are experiencing abuse, or you’re concerned for a relative, a friend, your next door neighbour, work colleague, or someone you are assisting through these challenging times, everyone has the right to be safe and to live fear free.
“It’s important that bystanders should seek help in a safe way though, for their own safety and that of the victim of abuse. Don’t intervene – instead call the Live Fear Free helpline, or call 999 if you think someone is in immediate danger. Welsh Women’s Aid has also launched a Bystander Toolkit, providing information advice and resources for anyone concerned about a victim of violence or abuse.”
Welsh Women’s Aid CEO Sara Kirkpatrick said: “Welsh Women’s Aid are pleased to be working with Welsh Government to link in with their ‘home shouldn’t be a place of fear’ campaign. We know that unfortunately self-isolation and social distancing may increase all forms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, and is having a profound effect on survivors’ safety and wellbeing.”
If you’re experiencing violence or abuse at home, or you’re concerned about someone, the free, confidential Live Fear Free helpline is available 24 hours a day on 0808 80 10 800.
LOCKDOWN measures could start being eased in England from Monday, Boris Johnson said as he set a new goal for increasing coronavirus testing capacity.
His comments came as new figures showed a total of 32,898 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
The Prime Minister marked his return to the Commons by setting an ambition for creating the capacity for 200,000 coronavirus tests a day in England by the end of the month.
In his first Prime Minister’s Questions since recovering from Covid-19 and the birth of his son Wilfred, Mr Johnson said he “bitterly” regrets the Covid-19 crisis in care homes and expressed frustration about problems supplying personal protective equipment (PPE).
Mr Johnson will set out plans for easing the lockdown in a speech on Sunday, with some measures possibly being introduced the following day.
The UK’s devolved administrations have powers to amend lockdown measures as they see fit, but the four nations have so far adopted a very similar approach to the issue. Here in Wales, ministers are set to review stayat-home restrictions over the coming days.
Setting out England’s approach, Mr Johnson yesterday said: “We have to be sure the data is going to support our ability to do this.
“That data is coming in continuously over the next few days. We want, if we possibly can, to get going with some of these measures on Monday.
“It would be a good thing if the people had an idea of what’s coming the following day, that’s why I think Sunday – the weekend – is the best time to do it.”
Downing Street stressed that “it is not going to be a case of flicking a switch” to lift all measures at once, instead “people will have to prepare for a different type of normal”.
Mr Johnson faced Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons for the first time and was accused of being too slow to respond to the outbreak, leaving the UK with the highest death toll in Europe.
The UK Government claimed it had met its 100,000-a-day testing target by the end of April, but critics have poured scorn on how this was achieved, and officials have failed to maintain that level since.
But Downing Street made clear the new target – unlike the previous goal – was for the capacity to conduct 200,000 tests rather than the number performed every day.
The route out of lockdown will rely on increased capacity as part of a test, track and trace programme to quickly identify new cases of coronavirus and prevent the further spread of the infection.
Although hospital deaths are falling, ministers and officials have struggled to get a grip on the crisis in care homes – where some of the most vulnerable people risk contracting the disease.
Mr Johnson said: “There is an epidemic going on in care homes which is something I bitterly regret and we have been working very hard for weeks to get it down and a huge amount of effort has been gone into by literally tens of thousands of people to get the right PPE into care homes, to encourage workers in care homes to understand what is needed.”
He said there had been a “palpable improvement” in the situation in care homes in recent days.
Sir Keir said problems with PPE supply are “going to get even more acute if and when the Government ask people to return to work” as more people will need masks and other protective kit to do their jobs.
Mr Johnson said “it has been enraging to see the difficulties we’ve had in supplying PPE to those who need it” but there was “a massive plan” to increase production in the UK.
Asked what he regrets about the crisis in England’s care homes, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “There have been issues in getting PPE to care homes and we have been working hard to address them.
“We do now have a full strategy set out for care homes but I think the PM is acknowledging that we still have work to do.”
On Tuesday, more than 13 million items of PPE were delivered to 199 health trusts and organisations, Downing Street said.
An online ordering system for GPs and social care services to order PPE, which had been expected to launch in the first week of April, is up and running in pilot form, it added.
Earlier this week, Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister Robert Jenrick said it will be expanded more widely in two to three weeks’ time.
It comes as a care home boss claimed the Government is “hoovering up” PPE stocks from his regular suppliers and tying up contracts into next year.
The director said face masks – which in January were selling for 16p each and now cost more than £1.20 – are drying up, even from alternative sources such as DIY chains.
Justin Russi, who runs four sites in Teesside and County Durham, said each of his homes routinely uses a box of 50 masks a day.
He said: “This is going to get worse in the next week or so as we have heard the Government has asked officials to hoover up all the PPE.
“We are getting emails from our suppliers saying they’re sorry but they cannot supply us as the NHS has come in and taken up contracts until 2021.
“The pool is drying up. There’s 15,000 care homes in England and they are all going to be scrambling for PPE.”
Mr Russi’s comments follow a warning from the UK Homecare Association (UKHCA) that sourcing equipment for workers remains a main concern for care providers.
The UKHCA’s policy director Colin Angel told the BBC on Tuesday: “I think every homecare provider in the country is really struggling to get a sure supply of PPE, and having enough to be confident that they can continue providing care services across, sometimes even days, if not just a few weeks.”
Unison assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “It’s a huge concern if care homes are continuing to report shortages at this stage.
“The situation needs firm Government control to ensure there’s a fair and consistent supply for all the public