DOMESTIC abuse has soared in Wiltshire over the last six years - including thousands of offences during the first year of the pandemic.
Lockdowns led to rates for many crimes dropping but domestic abuse rose by six per cent nationally and almost 850,000 reports were made to police in England and Wales.
One in five of all crimes reported in Wiltshire during 2020-21 involved domestic abuse, with 7,214 offences recorded by the county’s force.
That is the equivalent of 10 for every 1,000 people in the area, up from nine the previous year - and is 50 per cent more than the 4,805 of these crimes recorded in the county when records began in 2015/16.
The data shows women are far more likely to experience this abuse and they have accounted for more than three-quarters of those killed in domestic homicides since 2018 nationally – one woman was killed in Wiltshire in that time.
Women’s Aid chief executive Farah Nazeer suggested that society must work together to tackle the “inherent sexism and misogyny which underpin women’s inequality and violence against them” in order to stop domestic abuse happening this often.
She added: “Women will not report domestic abuse if they aren’t confident they will be believed and action will be taken on their behalf.
“We all have a part to play in unlearning sexism.”
The figures suggest most cases of domestic abuse will not see perpetrators charged, with just eight per cent of cases concluded nationally last year resulting in a charge or summons.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for domestic abuse, assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe, said the “complex and entrenched societal problem” was a policing priority and highlighted an increased number of victims reporting abuse in recent years.
Ms Nazeer added that work was needed to restore faith in policing after more than three quarters of investigations were dropped due to evidential difficulties nationally – more than half because the victim pulled out of the investigation.
Demand for victim support has jumped nationally during this period, as calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline increased by 22 per cent.
Earlier this year, Wiltshire’s office for the PCC secured additional funding for seven additional independent domestic violence advisors to support victims.
And the force threw its support behind the 16 Days of Action campaign to work with schools to promote healthy relationship messages to young people and encourage people to look out for the potential signs of domestic abuse of colleagues they work with.
DI Helen Clarke said: “With the help of our partners across the criminal justice system we are committed to making long-lasting change to the daily lives of anyone who faces coercion, and mental and physical violence from a partner. Whoever they are.”
A Home Office spokeswoman said the government is committed to ending violence against women and girls, and said its landmark Domestic Abuse Act would improve victim support and strengthen legislation.
She said funding had been doubled for 2021-22 to £25 million in an effort to tackle perpetrators.
People who are experiencing domestic abuse in Swindon can access support from the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service, which offers a range of services to help both male and female victims of domestic abuse
Visit www.swadomesticabuse.org or call the 24-hour helpline 01793 610610.
Always call 999 in an emergency.
