First Anniversary of Helpline Sees a Sharp Increase in Calls

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First Anniversary of Helpline Sees a Sharp Increase in Calls

7 Jan 2008

THE number of calls made to the all Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline has increased significantly since it became a 24-hour service a year ago.

Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones marked the anniversary with a private visit to the helpline. Mr Jones AM heard that more than 1,400 additional calls had been made to the Assembly Government-assisted initiative over a six month period.

He said, "Domestic violence blights the lives of thousands of people across Wales, and these victims desperately need the support that this 24-hour helpline provides," said the Deputy First Minister. "The demand for this vital service is clearly demonstrated by the number of calls received."

Between April and September 2007, the helpline received 6,673 calls compared with 5,258 for the same period in the previous year when it was a 12 hour service.

"It’s an appalling fact that about 120 women and 30 men are killed by an abusive partner or ex-partner in the UK every year. In many cases, they have been the subject of systematic abuse over many months or even years.

"About 49 women on average contact Welsh Women’s aid every single day because of domestic violence. Many more victims are simply too frightened to report an incident for fear of further abuse.

"Combating domestic abuse is a priority for the Assembly Government. Welsh Women’s Aid estimates that one in 10 women are severely beaten by their partner and that 150,000 children and young people are affected in some way by domestic abuse at any one time."

The confidential free helpline offers advice and support for women, children and men suffering domestic abuse. Assembly Government funding has helped employ six fully-trained specialist call workers at the Helpline.

Welsh Women’s Aid is an umbrella organisation for local Women’s Aid service providers in Wales. It supports 31 local groups that run 40 refuges and 22 information centres between them.

Tracey Owens, Manager of the Helpline, said: "The development of the service to provide a 24 hour bilingual helpline for the whole of Wales has been invaluable. Domestic abuse affects people from all walks of life, and people should not have to suffer in silence.

"People can contact us at any time. We have trained staff available to discuss the options available to sufferers of domestic abuse or a concerned other calling on their behalf.

"We can provide information regarding legal issues, benefits, child contact and housing. We also take calls from other agencies, such as the Police, housing officials and Social Services.

"The Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and completely confidential, and anyone calling does not even have to give us their name. Our telephone number will not show up on UK landline telephone bills.

"Last year alone we took 3,500 new callers who wanted someone to listen to their problems and offer support. More than half of these callers – 58 per cent - wanted emergency refuge accommodation, meaning that women and their children had to flee their homes to ensure their safety.

"These statistics are the sad reality of domestic abuse; everyone has the right to live free from fear, especially within their own homes," she said.

The 24-hour free helpline for anyone suffering domestic abuse is

0808 80 10 800.