Ministers have been told they “must not repeat the mistakes of March, in being too slow to act” in tackling domestic abuse during the second national lockdown across England.
As the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the UK in early spring, and the country was locked down for the first time, domestic abuse charities saw the number of calls to their helplines increase by up to 50%.
New national restrictions are due to come into effect in England on Thursday, after MPs vote on them, and remain in place at least until 2 December.
What can I leave home for?
- For childcare or education, where it is not provided online.
- To go to work unless it can be done from home.
- Outdoor exercise either with household members or with one person from another household.
- For all medical reasons and appointments.
- To escape injury or harm, such as domestic abuse.
- To provide care for vulnerable people or volunteer.
- To shop for food and essentials.
- To see people in your support bubble.
- Children will still be able to move between homes if their parents are separated.
Government say the list is not exhaustive, and other permitted reasons for leaving home may be set out later. People could face fines from police for leaving their home without a legally permitted excuse.
Can different households mix indoors?
No, not unless they are part of an “exclusive” support bubble, which allows a single-person household to meet and socialise with another household.
Parents are allowed to form a childcare bubble with another household for the purposes of informal childcare, where the child is 13 or under.
Can different households mix outdoors?
People are allowed to meet one person from another household socially and for exercise in outdoor public spaces, which does not include private gardens.
Can I attend funerals, weddings or religious services?
Up to 30 people will still be allowed to attend funerals, while stone settings and ash scatterings can continue with up to 15 guests.
Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are not permitted except in “exceptional circumstances”. Places of worship must remain closed except for voluntary services, individual prayer and other exempt activities.
Can I travel in the UK or abroad for a holiday?
Most outbound international travel will be banned. There is no exemption for staying away from home for a holiday. This means people cannot travel internationally or within the UK, unless for work, education or other legally permitted exemptions.
Which businesses will close?
Everything except essential shops and education settings, which include nurseries, schools and universities, will close.
Entertainment venues will also have to close. Pubs, restaurants and indoor and outdoor leisure facilities will have to close their doors once more.
However, takeaway and delivery services will still be allowed, while construction and manufacturing will stay open.
Parents will still be able to access registered childcare and other childcare activities where reasonably necessary to enable parents to work. Some youth services may be able to continue, such as one-to-one youth work, but most youth clubs will need to close their doors.
Public services, such as jobcentres, courts, and civil registration offices will remain open.
There is no exemption for grassroots organised team sports. Elite sports will be allowed to continue behind closed doors as currently, including Premier League football matches.
Experts have warned that abusers and their partners having to self-isolate together at home may lead to an increase in abusive behaviour and violence because of the pressure-cooker effect of being trapped indoors.
The shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, and Jess Phillips, the shadow minister for domestic abuse and safeguarding, have written to Priti Patel, the home secretary, urging her to bring forward a package of support for organisations working with victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
Thomas-Symonds told the Guardian: “For too many people, home just isn’t a safe place and as England moves into a lockdown it is vital that services are supported to address domestic abuse.
“We have convened experts from across the sector and it’s clear that they are deeply worried about the impact this lockdown could have.
“The government must not repeat the mistakes of March, in being too slow to act. That is why I have written to the home secretary, calling for the UK government to urgently set out a clear, well-resourced plan for addressing domestic abuse and supporting vital frontline agencies.”
On Tuesday, Thomas-Symonds and Phillips met representatives of more than 15 organisations working to support victims of domestic abuse including Women’s Aid, Action for Children, Refuge, Barnardo’s, Southall Black Sisters, Latin American Women’s Rights Service, Galop, SafeLives and Stay Safe East.
In their letter to Patel, they highlight issues raised by these organisations, including:
Significant concerns about long-term sustainable funding for the domestic abuse support sector, and the risk of redundancies during the pandemic.
Plans for addressing rising demand over the course of, and following, the second lockdown, including services for children.
Concerns that provision of specialised services such as for black, Asian and minority ethnic victims, migrant victims, LGBTQ+ victims, male victims and services for disabled victims are an “afterthought” rather than a core element of planning.
A call to continue to raise public awareness of domestic and sexual violence, ensuring press briefings are utilised.
Access to domestic violence perpetrator programmes.
The letter adds: “For some, this period has led to an escalation of abuse and violence, and the coronavirus crisis has created further barriers for victims to escape abuse or bring perpetrators to justice.
“Frontline organisations are doing extraordinary work to support people at an incredibly difficult time; the very least they deserve is the necessary support from the government.”
The Counting Dead Women project told MPs that between 23 March and 12 April, at least 16 domestic abuse killings had taken place – much higher than the average for the time of year – while calls to the National Domestic Abuse Helpline were up 49% three weeks after lockdown was introduced.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Home is not a safe place for everyone which is why the government is safeguarding those at risk of domestic abuse during this pandemic.
“We continue to work with charities and the domestic abuse commissioner on an unprecedented package of support. This includes £2m to ensure helplines and online services are easily accessible, our #YouAreNotAlone national awareness raising campaign and £76m for charities supporting survivors.”
