Child protection referrals for domestic abuse are on the rise across Lincolnshire
There's been a year on year increase of ten per cent
Child protection referrals for domestic abuse are on the rise across Lincolnshire.
Figures from the NSPCC reveal more than 10-thousand were made in the year to March across the county.
That's an increase of over ten per cent.
The charity is calling on the government to ensure all children that are victims of domestic abuse have access to specialist support in their community.
We spoke to Georgia Macqueen Black from the NSPCC about the stats.
She told us "we're only starting to learn more and more about the ways children have been impacted by the pandemic and we're really worried about these new statistics about referrals are reflected in a bigger concerning picture."
"We know domestic abuse often goes unreported".
"We were hearing how lockdown restrictions made existing problems worse and family relationships".
"That meant children were trapped with their abuser and out of sight from support services which could have helped them".
"In the short term children are likely to become anxious or depressed, they have difficulty sleeping, their behaviour will change and they could experience low self esteem. "
"These are really overwhelming feelings for a child and is why we need to have well funded and well resourced support.