West Midlands NSPCC 'not surprised' by rise in domestic abuse reports
They have seen a 14-percent increase on the number of child welfare calls on the subject in the UK
A member of the NSPCC's team in the West Midlands told us 'it does not come as a surprise' that calls from children experiencing domestic abuse have reached a record high.
They have seen a 14-percent increase on the number of child welfare calls on the subject in the UK.
The stats...
The charity said it is the highest total since their records began in 2021 and means an average of 21 adults are contacting the helpline each day with concerns about children and domestic abuse.
Coercive or controlling behaviour was mentioned in 2,633 child welfare contacts in the past year, up from 2,040 the previous year.
The NSPCC said around a third of child welfare contacts about domestic abuse ended in a referral to authorities such as police and children's social services.
"The most recent data is alarming"
Emily works in the charity’s domestic abuse team in the West Midlands.
She said: “The most recent data is alarming, but it doesn't actually come as a surprise, we know that reporting domestic abuse is increasing, but we also know that it's still an unreported crime.
“We also know the general public are becoming more aware that domestic abuse doesn't have to be physical for it to be domestic abuse and we're getting more people coming forward with those concerns.
“Basically the message that we want to get out there really is that in these households where these things are happening, children are frightened and they're frightened of the one place that's supposed to feel safe," she said.