PLEAS for help from victims of domestic violence to a national helpline have risen by almost 100 each day – and the trend is reflected in Calderdale.
January is one of the busiest times of the year for domestic violence services according to the charity, Women's Aid.
They have seen the number of calls to their helpline increase from an average of 345 to 443 each day, a rise of 28 per cent, in t
he first three weeks of the year.
The Calderdale Women's Refuge Centre has witnessed an influx of women seeking help and advice.
A spokeswoman said: "New Year can be a very busy time for domestic violence services.
"It's definitely true we see more women come to us in January for advice or shelter.
"This year, the month started off quite quiet but in the last few weeks we have seen a surge.
"Women, especially those with children, want Christmas to be a happy time and want to keep it all together, so we often see fewer women in December.
"Once it's all over, things often come to a head and the violence can flare up again or the woman feels it's time to seek help or leave home," she said.
There are 3,600 reports of domestic violence in Calderdale each year and of these, 43 per cent are repeat victimisations.
Detective Sgt Sally Fletcher, domestic violence co-ordinator for Calderdale police, said: "There are a lot of good reasons why domestic violence services do see an increase in January.
"No one wants to report such crimes over Christmas for fear of splitting up the family or causing more tension at home, at a time which is often more stressful for women with violent partners," she said.
"And often, it is more difficult to report incidents during the festive season because the family is at home together.
"By January, women feel more able to come forward and report incidents because the tension has reduced and they have more time and privacy to seek support."
The full article contains 344 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
