Coronavirus can be kept outside – but for some the devil lives at home!

This article was written by Shanshan Chen.

Domestic abuse on the rise

 

It has been 50 days since lockdown started on 23 March 2020 in the UK. Lockdown and quarantine have resulted in a horrifying surge of domestic abuse in countries affected by COVID-19 all over the world. Some experts describe the situation as living in a pressure cooker as not only is there abuse present, but additional pressures such as anxiety, lack of space, lack of social activities, deterioration of mental well-being. This is exacerbating existing problems for many people, making life at home terribly hard to manage.

 

The UK’s largest domestic abuse charity, Refuge, reported its helpline has seen a consistent increase in demand of 45-50% since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland told MPs that his local refuge had an 80% increase in referrals in one week. Calls to the local helpline increased by nearly 30%.

 

The Domestic Abuse Bill reached its second reading in parliament on 28 April 2020, which has secured more housing help for victims, with the Government announcing a £76 million fund to support the most vulnerable.

 

Lisa’s Law are also here to help you get the support you are entitled to.

 

Lisa’s Law – here to help stop domestic abuse

 

Clearly, we at Lisa’s Law think domestic abuse has to stop immediately. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, but do not know who to turn to, or are too afraid to ask for help, just remember that you can contact us by phone or online. We can help you now!

 

Call in for a 30-minute free and confidential consultation now on 020 7928 0276 or online email info@lisaslaw.co.uk and we will readily advise you.

 

Some abuse goes unnoticed

 

Domestic abuse has many different forms and can affect both men and women, children and elderly people. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, gender, religion, sexuality or ethnicity.

 

The abuse is defined as any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour. It can be physical, sexual, psychological, financial, and emotional abuse.

 

Some signs to look out for:

 

• Is your partner jealous and possessive?
• Are they charming one minute and abusive the next?
• Do they tell you what to wear, where to go, or who to see?
• Do they constantly put you down?
• Do they play mind games and make you doubt your judgment?
• Do they control your money?
• Do they pressure you to have sex when you don’t want to?
• Are you starting to walk on eggshells to avoid making them angry?
• Do they monitor or track your movements or messages?
• Do they use anger and intimidation to frighten and control you?

 

Do not be afraid and remember we are here for you

 

If you are in an emergency, call 999 immediately and ask for the police. We will help you along the way to get a Domestic Violence Protection Notice or Domestic Violence Protection Order for immediate protection.

 

You can be granted settlement in the UK if you are the victim of domestic violence. We will guide you on how to obtain evidence and make an application to the Home Office.

 

Want to leave home for a safe place? We can help you access a refuge place, or make an emergency Homeless Application to your local authority.

 

Want to stay at home safely? We can help you obtain Injunctions (Non-molestation Order or Occupation Order) from the court to guarantee your safety to live at home.

 

Received threats from your partner regarding children? We will guide you on how to obtain evidence and make child arrangement orders to the court if necessary.

 

Want to file for divorce? We have divorce lawyers in place.

 

You are not the victim but suspect your family member or friend might be? We will let you know how you can use your ‘Right to Ask’ under ‘Clare’s Law’ by asking the police to make enquiries into the partner of a close friend or family member.

 

We are here to help!

 

We are operating as usual, and you can reach us on 020 7928 0276 or email in to info@lisaslaw.co.uk.

 

Or, why not download our free app today? You can launch a new enquiry, scan over documents and much more.

 

If you have an iPhone, follow this link to download.

 

If you use an Android phone, follow this link to download. 

 

Find the link here if you need some further instructions on how to use our new app!