Referrals made to child services due to domestic abuse rises in East
Data obtained by NSPCC shows that police forces in the region made nearly 35,000 child protection referrals in 20/21
Police forces across the East of England made 34,551 child protection referrals to social services due to domestic abuse in 2020/21, according to data from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services obtained by NSPCC.
The figure equates to around 94 calls to social services regarding the welfare of a child a day in the region.
Ellie Pirrie is the society's Policy and Public Affairs Officer. She says the number is only the tip of the iceberg: "This is only the cases that the police are aware of. Our fear is that there maybe many more children and families out there who are dealing with domestic abuse alone.
"It is really worrying trend we're seeing and points to the scale of the domestic abuse that exists."
Overall, the 34,551 referrals made in East of England in 2020/21 is up from the 32,584 in 2019/20.
Hertfordshire is the county which registered a near four-fold increase in the region, from 3,450 in 2019/20 to 11,044 a year later.
Notably, both Suffolk and Norfolk recorded a fall in their figures.
However, Ms Pirrie believes that maybe down to a reduction in the number of domestic abuse cases attended by the police, rather than a fall in the number of domestic abuse incidents itself.
"We can't say whether there's a reduction in these particular locations but what we know is that across England and Wales, there has been an uptick in referrals. The pandemic just meant that domestic abuse has been exacerbated and compounded for these families and the public are that much more aware of it, across the board."
She also adds that it is important to look beyond the numbers and the human impact on the victims of domestic abuse.
"It's really important to not just reflect on the statistics but also make sure that those victims are at the centre of any response as domestic abuse has a huge impact on children and leaves a long lasting impression.
"It really impacts their mental health, their emotional well-being, and leaves them vulnerable to physical abuse, coercive controlling behaviours, and can warp their understanding of what a healthy relationship looks like."
From this month, children will be recognised as victims in their own right, whether they suffered abuse themselves or witnessed it at home, as part of the new Domestic Abuse Act.
Ms Pirrie welcomes the step. "This is crucial to make sure that those in the frontline and professionals that come into contact with children understand the complex nature and the true impact it has on children, because it's never gonna be just about witnessing domestic abuse. The child is very much wrapped up in that abuse and it has long lasting impacts", she explains.
The consultation on the landmark Victims Bill also ends today which seeks to improve victims' experience of the criminal justice system, including by providing community-based support and improved advocacy.
"It serves as an opportunity to transform the response to victims and in particular children who have suffered domestic abuse. We want to make sure that there is support in the community to make sure that children and families can access support no matter where they live", Ms Pirrie says.
In the meantime, she has the following advice for children who are in an abusive household and are seeking to get out.
"If they are in immediate danger then I would urge them to call 999 immediately. If not, we would encourage them to call our Childline service (0800 1111), which is a free, confidential service. If you don't feel able to call, then you can use the chat or online function to speak with our specialist advisors.
"I can only imagine how hard it would be for those who are dealing with domestic abuse to reach out. My only hope is that they have an opportunity to reach out to those closest to them and access those vital support networks, friends, family."
People in the community who are concerned about the welfare of a child in their neighbourhood can reach out to the NSPCC through their 0808 800 5000 helpline.