Assaults on older women up almost 20% during Covid-19 restrictions

The number of assaults actually rose among women aged 30-44 (up 2%) and increased sharply among women aged 60 and over (up 18%)

Women’s Aid cited a significant rise in reports of domestic violence during the Covid-19 restrictions. Picture: file image

There has been a significant increase in assaults on older women during the Covid-19 restrictions — in sharp contrast to a dramatic reduction in the total number of assaults, new figures show.

Cases of sexual assault of a child also increased during the second quarter of the year, while drugs cultivation and dealing boomed and murder threats also rose.