Bridlington Has Highest Rate Of Domestic Abuse In East Riding

The extent of domestic abuse in the East Riding has been laid bare at a county council cabinet meeting, which saw members discuss a new strategy to tackle the issue.

Cabinet members heard East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Domestic Violence and Abuse Partnership (DVAP) handled up to 200 referrals a month from April 2019 to 2020. The overall figure of 2,168 for that period fell year-on-year from 2,251.

But both referrals and cases have increased since the end of April. A council report stated the rise could be due to victims being able to report abuse, as coronavirus lockdown restrictions eased.

Local figures showed wards in Bridlington, Holderness, Goole and that of Minster and Woodmansey outside Beverley had the highest rates of domestic abuse.

The council’s ommunities and environment director Paul Bellotti told councillors the figures referred only to cases officials had been made aware of.

Council leader Cllr Richard Burton said it was “vital” that all councillors and staff play a role in tackling the issue.

The meeting saw the cabinet approve a draft Domestic Abuse Strategy which would run up to 2023 if fully adopted.

The strategy would see the council work with police officers, teachers, health workers and others who could alert the authority if they notice signs of abuse in a resident.

It also focuses on ‘hard to reach’ groups including male victims, members of the LGBTQ community, parents, the disabled, victims from ethnic or cultural minorities and those in rural areas.

Officers told cabinet members the council’s new domestic abuse strategy had been drafted following a review which ran from October to February. The review was endorsed by SafeLives, a national abuse charity.

The new strategy would see the council work with other public agencies and services to prevent and respond to domestic abuse cases.

The council would also focus on protecting victims and rehabilitating them and perpetrators.

A council report stated there was a 50 per cent increase in referrals for domestic abuse at the end of April, compared to the previous year. Figures for May and June were also up 50 per cent year-on-year.

It added 43 domestic abuse cases were recorded in August, up from 23 in the same month last year. June and July saw increases in cases year-on-year, from 22 to 36 and 22 to 39, respectively.

Three quarters of all those reporting cases were responded to within three days, according to the report, which added DVAP staff had been able to handle cases despite the increase.

The report also quoted National Rural Crime Network research stating domestic abuse could last 25 per cent longer in rural areas.

It added council figures for abuse overall showed it was most common in urban areas with high levels of deprivation.

The wards with the highest number of abuse cases between April 2019 and 2020 were Bridlington South with 548, South East Holderness, 281 and Goole South, 274. Bridlington Central and Old Town had 273 cases with Minster and Woodmansey on 265.

The equivalent figures for the previous 12 months were 830, 358, 410, 377 and 389 respectively.

Council officers told the cabinet research showed it could take 35 incidents before domestic abuse victims come forward.

They added catching perpetrators was also made difficult by some moving from one relationship to another before a case was reported.

Council Health and Social Care portfolio holder Cllr Julie Abraham said she was reassured by plans to work across public bodies to tackle the issue.

Cllr Abraham said:

“This is a dreadful issue, it’s impossible to comprehend what some people go through.”

Cllr Burton said he would be in favour of holding seminars for all council members so they could also spot signs of abuse in residents.

He said:

“Early intervention will be crucial in stopping this. Other members should be aware of such an important piece of work.”