Concerns over lack of support for South Yorkshire domestic abuse victims in 2017
A Doncaster charity says they're expecting 2017 to be one of their toughest yet when it comes offering support to victims of domestic abuse.
There's fresh concerns victims of domestic abuse will struggle to find the support they need due to rising demands and further budget cuts.
That's according to South Yorkshire Women's Aid who are calling for 'ringfence' funding to ensure they can continue to offer services to those who are most vulnerable across South Yorkshire.
It's said growing confidence among victims to get help coupled with cuts to the voluntary sector is causing strains on the amount of available resources.
Louise Harrison is from South Yorkshire Women's Aid based in Doncaster, she says it's becoming a very real problem:
"We are at a critical point in British history in that we have never spoken as much about domestic violence as we do now. But we're also at a time when we've never had so many crushing cuts to the domestic violence service, so we've got this strange situation where woman are wanting to come forward and talk about it, but where do they go?
"I have to say I'm quite worried about 2017 for women who are suffering from domestic abuse."
It all comes a year on from new laws classing controlling behaviour as domestic abuse which were introduced at the end of 2015 to make controlling abuse punishable by up to five years in prison.
Back in May a Sheffield man became the first person in South Yorkshire to be charged and convicted for the offence - after being found guilty of controlling his victims diet, exercise and clothing. He'll serve a total of 2 years, 4 months behind bars in what was the first of its kind in South Yorkshire
Nationally over 60 charges have been brought against those who carry out manipulative behaviour on victims.
But speaking about the law, Louise questions its effectiveness:
"It's a fantastic piece of legislation that could really save a lot of women's lives, but it's not being used properly.
"We need to make sure Police up and down the country are trained properly to ensure they're protecting women and making sure they arrest the perpetrators and deal with them appropriately."