Helpline experiences 'significant' rise in domestic violence calls

Michele Puckhaber, executive director of CVH, said: “It is no surprise that Crime Victims Helpline contacts about domestic-violence-related crimes increased so significantly in 2020,” File photo

There was a 135% increase in contacts relating to domestic violence to a crime support line last year.

Crime Victims’ Helpline (CVH), a national support service, experienced an overall 15% increase in all contacts in 2020 but with an "alarming" increase in calls linked to domestic violence, rising to 326 contacts. The charity recorded more than 5,170 contacts over the free helpline, text, email, and post last year. It handled 1,900 more contacts in 2020 than it did just five years ago.