YOU Are Not Alone was the Government’s domestic abuse awareness campaign at the start of lockdown; supported by my office and Wiltshire Police.

Six months on and although we are no longer in full lockdown, the message and its sentiment around domestic abuse is the same – if you’re a victim of domestic abuse help is available.

In fact, it’s more relevant than ever.

Those who may not have been able to report abuse behind closed doors now have more opportunity to do so away from the prying eyes and ears of their abuser.

Inevitably lockdown saw a rise in the number of reported domestic abuse cases and, with the current Covid situation ongoing, additional pressures on relationships and home life are bound to take their toll.

This week, Wiltshire Police, supported by its partners including my office, is running another domestic abuse awareness campaign to keep that message out there – that victims can be helped, and no-one deserves to suffer at the hands of an abuser.

The campaign will look at several strands:

1 Clare’s Law, which allows you to find out if your partner poses a risk of violence or abuse.

2 Domestic abuse is not just carried out by abusive partners, we are seeing a disturbing rise in the number of adult children abusing their parents.

3 Victims are both women and men. Although the number of reported cases involve mostly female victims, men can be and are victims of abuse by their partners.

My office commissions several support services. Horizon, the victim and witness care service, will work with a victim of domestic violence to explore available support.

We also work with stakeholder agencies such as Splitz – the Wiltshire domestic abuse service - and Swindon Women’s Aid; there are also national charities like Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline.

It’s really important we reinforce to members of the public and our stakeholders that during this time we, and other agencies, are still here for all victims to report abuse to.

If you are in an abusive relationship or know of someone who is, please reach out for help.

Meanwhile, this week the Prime Minister has once again issued a stark warning about the ongoing threat that Covid poses and has introduced further restrictions in a bid to keep us all safe.

I would urge you all to take note of this update and make sure you are doing everything you can to protect yourself and those around you.

Please go to www.gov.uk/coronavirus for the very latest updates from the Government.