Labour leaders have written to the Home Secretary demanding that she urgently addressed the subject of domestic violence while insisting that mistakes made during the first wave of Covid-19 lockdown should not be repeated during this national lockdown.
The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas Symonds and Jess Phillips, the shadow minister for domestic abuse and safeguarding have written to Priti Patel urging her to present a financial package of support for organisations working with victims and survivors of domestic abuse. According to The Guardian, these Labour leaders had earlier held discussions with more than 15 organisations working to support victims of domestic abuse including Women’s Aid, Action for Children, Refuge, Barnardo’s, Southall Black Sisters, Latin American Women’s Rights Service, Galop, SafeLives and Stay Safe East.
Now in their letter to the Home Secretary, they highlight issues raised by these organisations, including concerns about long-term sustainable funding for the domestic abuse support sector, and the risk of redundancies during the pandemic. They have also flagged up concerns for provision of specialised services such as for the BAME survivors of domestic violence, migrant victims, LGBTQ+ victims besides others. A call to continue to raise public awareness of domestic and sexual violence, ensuring press briefings are utilised.
In their letter, they have written, “For some, this period has led to an escalation of abuse and violence, and the coronavirus crisis has created further barriers for victims to escape abuse or bring perpetrators to justice.
“Frontline organisations are doing extraordinary work to support people at an incredibly difficult time; the very least they deserve is the necessary support from the government.”
