Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent an increase in the level of domestic violence cases during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government is working to ensure that support services continue to be available to those that need them that information on these is widely available, and that perpetrators will be brought to justice. The police will continue to respond to any reports of domestic abuse and to prioritise 999 calls. We have made clear that advice to remain at home does not apply to those who need to leave home for safety reasons.

The Chancellor has announced a funding package of some £750m to support charities including those providing domestic abuse services to support vulnerable adults and children during the crisis.

The Home Secretary has announced £2 million of funding to immediately bolster technological capabilities of domestic abuse services to ensure that those at risk of domestic abuse, including vulnerable adults and children, are able to access support they need.

The Government has also launched the #YouAreNotAlone awareness raising campaign to signpost those at risk of domestic abuse to support.