Support Still In Place For Domestic Abuse Victims On Yorkshire Coast

There are fears a second lockdown could leave domestic abuse victims on the Yorkshire Coast suffering in silence.

The Independent Domestic Abuse Service says referrals in North Yorkshire increased when restrictions were eased.

Evie Duerte, North Yorkshire Regional Manager, said:

"We've changed the way that we're engaging with clients; We've done much more digital contact with clients.

"We still do operate around the county and we have seen some people face-to-face safely if we've been able to do so.

"We knew it was still happening and we knew it was getting worse but people were unable to contact us initially; so for the first couple of weeks we were a little bit quieter but there's been a steady increase since then, particularly to our helpline.

"We're definitely having face-to-face conversations now, it has become easier.

"Although we've had an increase in referrals and people contacting us since the restrictions were lifted, because people have been more able to contact us.

Evie has this message:

"To try not to cope with this alone, to contact us; we have our helpline, or to go onto our website and we have a live chat facility there where they can talk to people perhaps more discreetly if they're not able to make a call."