Police urge delivery drivers to report signs of domestic violence during visits to homes as forces warn of a rise in incidents during coronavirus lockdown
- Police bosses claim there has been an increase in domestic abuse incidents
- Cumbria Constabulary chief asked carers and delivery drivers to flag signs
- Britons only allowed out of homes to get food, medicine or to do exercise
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Carers, supermarket delivery drivers and postal workers are being urged to flag signs of domestic abuse as tensions rise amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Police bosses say they have already seen a spike in domestic violence on the third day of families being confined to their homes.
One police chief in Cumbria urged ‘key workers’ who are still going into people’s homes or delivering vital supplies to look out for any tell-tale signs.
Detective Chief Inspector Dan St Quintin of Cumbria Constabulary warned domestic abuse victims are now ‘more hidden’.
While Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor for policing Baroness Beverley Hughes claimed her force has already started seeing lockdown-related incidents.
Police bosses say they have already seen a spike in domestic violence on the third day of families being confined to their homes
Speaking today, DCI Quintin told the Westmorland Gazette: ‘In the coming weeks and months we ask for everyone to look out for each other as much as possible.
‘We would also like to extend this plea to those such as postal workers, delivery drivers, food delivery companies and carers etc…who will still be visiting houses, to keep an eye out for any signs of abuse and to report any concerns to us.
‘We take a zero tolerance approach to abuse and victims can be reassured that we will listen to and support them.
‘Together we can reduce the abuse to victims who are now more hidden from society.’
He said there are a number of apps, including Bright Sky and Hestia, which can offer support to those affected by domestic violence.
Britons are now only allowed out of their homes to get food, medicine and to exercise once a day.
‘Key workers’, which include frontline medical staff, pharmacists, teachers and supermarket workers are allowed to continue doing their jobs.
But it will be at least three weeks until the situation is reviewed by the Prime Minister, with vulnerable or ‘at risk’ people ordered to stay at home for at least three months.
As of this morning, there were 8,077 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and 422 deaths.
One police chief in Cumbria urged ‘key workers’ such as delivery drivers (file image used) who are still going into people’s homes or delivering vital supplies to look out for any tell-tale signs
Speaking at an online press conference earlier today in Manchester, Baroness Hughes said: ‘I think we are beginning to see a rise in domestic abuse incidents.
‘We anticipated this might happen in the very stressful circumstances for many families.’
She later said the overall level of domestic abuse cases was as expected, but officers were classifying incidents believed to have a connection to COVID-19.
She said families were being asked to stay at home and many had significantly less money, or no income, as a result of restrictions put in place.
She added: ‘The potential for tension to arise in the home as a result of what we are asking people to cope with, in order to suppress the virus, is going to increase and therefore we would be right to think this might display itself in an increase in the number of domestic incidents we are called to.
‘We are preparing for that. Some of those most serious incidents will be challenging to deal with, particularly if the victim needs to be moved to a refuge, but the police specialise in these kind of cases and the local partners, local authorities, they’re working together really closely to prepare for that.’
The deputy mayor said there had also been a slight increase in hate crime since Britons were locked down on Monday night.
On Tuesday, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told the Commons Justice Committee the country may see more cases of domestic abuse, as well as online crime and fraud during the outbreak.