Sexual abuse figures rising is a ‘good sign’
Reports of sexual abuse in Southampton are expected to rise but councillors say that this will be a ‘good sign’
The statement was made in last Thursday’s (13th October) scrutiny management committee, in which Southampton City Council’s new draft Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy was introduced.
Between 2020 and 2021, almost 5,000 experienced a ‘domestic’ crime. This was 2.6 per cent more than the previous year.
However, the increasing rate of domestic crimes compared to other crimes could also be cause for concern. Seventeen per cent of city crimes were reported as ‘domestic’ in 2020-2021 up from 14.5 per cent the year before.
Southampton is in the worst 10 per cent nationally when it comes to VAWG and is third worst within comparable authorities.
There were 18,920 cases of VAWG in 2020/2021 – and it has been increasing.
It is now expected, and almost hoped, that the figures are going to continue rising.
Caroline Bates, domestic abuse co-ordinator at the council said: “The numbers need to go in the wrong direction.”
Many victims of domestic abuse and VAWG do not report the crimes, and it is only with reporting, that help can be given.
Nikki King, chief executive of Yellow Door, Southampton’s sexual abuse charity, said: “Many of our service users don’t report it to the police.”
The new strategy, which focuses on prevention and better support, aims to raise awareness of the issue – and with raising awareness, increased reporting should naturally follow.
The strategy which is currently in draft form and being edited, will run until 2027, and guide the council as they work with charities like Yellow Door and the police to tackle the issue in the city.