South Yorkshire PCC pushes for more government cash to tackle domestic abuse during Covid
It comes after we revealed a rise in incidents during lockdown
Last updated 1st Oct 2020
"As a charity, we need every single penny that we can get. Our work is trebling but the staff aren't trebling. We need a hell of a lot more."
Nicky Oates from IDAS in Barnsley says more cash is needed for domestic abuse charities urgently.
Earlier this week we revealed there's been over a thousand more incidents in our county during lockdown compared to the same time last year.
And support services are expecting the demand for their help to keep on rising.
Now our county's Police and Crime Commissioner's told us he's pushing for more government funding to help deal with the problem.
Allan Billings is joining other PCCs across the Country in calling for more support:
"The more we hear lockdown, whether it's local or national, the more concerned we should be.
"I think the government has gone out of its way to recognise there is a problem and we do make the case to government that more needs to be done. Because I think we have come to realise that domestic abuse is a huge issue across the country and it's a growing issue.
"And all that has come to light during the time of coronavirus. It's just made it all worse, it's put a focus on it, and we realise that this is an area where we've got to help people."
Back in May the government gave an extra £10 million to domestic abuse charities to help deal with those fleeing abuse during the pandemic.
It was part of a £76 million package of support for the most vulnerable in society.
But Alan says the rise in cases during lockdown was worse than anyone expected:
"During this period it's shone a light on domestic abuse in a way that we probably hadn't realised would happen. All Police and Crime Commissioners across the country have collectively made the case about domestic abuse to the government.
"We've particularly made the case just at this moment in time. The government is considering now funding for the next three years."
Charities tell us they need more support to keep up from the government to keep up with demand and it must be long-term.
Sam Goulding is South Yorkshire Area Manager at IDAS:
"It's been very welcomed that the government made extra funds available. It's time limited, it's expected to be spent by a certain time.
"Covid and this situation and new way of working is around for a little time yet. So it's very difficult to assess whether the funding is going to be adequate enough.
"Based on the increasing figures, particularly in our South Yorkshire services, not just in relation to the months prior, what we're doing is a year-on-year comparison, we believe the increase is going to continue. It's not going to stop as the funding stops."
There are links to domestic abuse support here.