Domestic abuse charity urge victims to seek support during festive period

A North Yorkshire domestic abuse charity is urging people in abusive relationships to seek support instead of struggling through the festive period.

There is often a spike in reports of attacks as families spend more time at home through Christmas.

Carmel Offord is from IDAS and says there are hand to offer support: "Even if you are trying to make sense of what is happening to you and you are just not sure, we get a lot of people who are worried about wasting our time but actually are in quite risky situations."

Carmel says Christmas can put victims in a really vulnerable position: "Excess alcohol consumption, heightened expectations, increase stresses, families at home together for a long periods of time, we saw that in lockdown and the stress that caused for families where domestic abuse is being perpetrated."

IDAS say their helplines are available 7 days a week and their live chat is available daily.

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