Coronavirus: 40% surge in calls to Women’s Aid compared to last year

Women's Aid has said that the next government need to prioritise tackling domestic violence to increase safety and protection for victims of abuse.

There has been an almost 40% surge in calls to Women's Aid since March compared to last year -- with women disclosing being raped, strangled, beaten, feeling constantly monitored and trapped in homes with their abusive partners.

Women's Aid said more than 4,000 calls a 39% increase, have been answered by its 24-hour national freephone helpline since late March, while its website has seen over 72,000 visits in the same period -- an increase of 74% on last year.