The chancellor has announced a £15million package for support for domestic abuse programmes in the March budget. This follows a previous increase in funding for domestic abuse services during the first national lockdown last year amid the huge rise in domestic abuse and has almost doubled the funding towards domestic abuse in the 2020 budget.
It is understood that the funds will be used to expand existing interventions for perpetrations as well as for specific interventions to respond to stalking and to improve responses to young people who suffer abuse.
Mr Sunak warned that the experience of domestic abuse victims was one of the hidden tragedies of lockdown and added that this fund is intended to “reduce the risk of re-offending, and to pilot a network of respite rooms to provide specialist support for vulnerable homeless women.”
This follows the Government’s intentions to use the Domestic Abuse Bill to provide a statutory definition to domestic abuse as well as changing the experience of domestic abuse victims in the Family Court and introducing a specific offence of non-fatal strangulation.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, you are able to leave your home to escape your abuser or ask for help despite the current lockdown in England.
We are here to help. If you or someone you know is suffering domestic abuse, please get in touch with our family team who can provide you with the legal assistance and support required. If you are in immediate danger, call the Police on 999.
If you believe you or someone you know are suffering from domestic abuse, we are here to help. Please get in touch with our Family team in confidence by calling 08000 147720 or email family@ramsdens.co.uk. We can provide assistance and obtain urgent injunctive orders for your safety and protection remotely via telephone or email and work closely with many local organisations offering help and support to victims.