Domestic violence - Services are woefully inadequate

Each year in the Christmas and New Year period there is a seasonal increase in domestic violence. Refuges and helplines experience an upsurge of 20% to 30% in the number of families seeking help.

But if the figures for this year are consistent with last year, it will mean that a majority of calls to helplines will go unanswered.

In 2003, for instance, there were 18,902 calls to the Women’s Aid national helpline, which amounted to an increase of 26%. This, in turn, was significantly up on the 17% increase in the figures for 2001.