Pandora Project boss says women need more help to leave abusive partners

A charity helping domestic abuse survivors in Norfolk says more needs to be done to keep women safe from their partners or ex-partners.

The Pandora Trust is backing the Domestic Abuse Bill, which is being heard in parliament today, in hopes that more people will feel comfortable coming forward about their experiences.

Chief executive of the charity, Tracy Mahoney, says there needs to be more help for women who are trying to leave a partner:

"Women need support when they are thinking about leaving an unhealthy relationship because research shows that's when they are in the most danger.

"The perpetrator feels like they are losing control, and so will often ramp up their actions to regain that control.

"Two women a week in the UK and Wales are killed by their partner or ex-partner.

"That is absolutely awful and needs to be changed.

"That time-frame of starting to talk about leaving to about a month after leaving is a really dangerous time and that's when most domestic homicides happen."

The Bill will bring in a lot of new rules about domestic abuse, such as introducing children into the legal definition, and abolishing the so-called 'rough sex' defence.

Tracy added:

"The more we talk about domestic abuse, the more it raises awareness, and then people start thinking about their own relationships, talking to friends and seeking advice.

"That could then lead to them contacting us as a specialist service and realising that they are in an unhealthy relationships.

"Years ago it was all behind closed doors and people were left to get on with it, but now the more we talk about it, the more people we can help."