Campaigners warn abusive men are using the outbreak as an excuse for domestic violence as rate of suspected killings doubles.
as an excuse for domestic violence, campaigners have warned as horrifying new figures reveal men are killing women and girls at a rate of almost one a day since lockdown began.
At this rate, Smith says the expected number of women killed by men in 21 days would be seven – but instead she revealed 16 females - including two children - are suspected to have been killed by men in the first three weeks of the coronavirus lockdown. She has information on two other dead women where men have been arrested but not yet charged.
“It is the conditions around us that have changed due to coronavirus and this has resulted in more triggers to men’s violence – although I prefer to call them excuses.”Smith says she has been frustrated by what she calls the “lazy reporting” of some of the cases where it has been suggested the deaths of the women were caused by the men being “pushed to violence” as a result of coronavirus pressures.
“Men’s controlling behaviour is the reason behind these killings. It is their domineering behaviour, their sense of entitlement and their belief that they need to be controlling and that women are there to serve them which is to blame.“There has been a sharp rise in deaths, but not an increase in the number of abusive men. For an unhealthy relationship to become an abusive one takes an abusive person.
“However, it is a worry to me whether there is a lockdown or not. I am alarmed at the women who have been killed during the first three weeks of the coronavirus lockdown – but I am equally worried about the seven women who would have been killed on an average week.
“The increasing pressures of the situation can see a relationship that was unhappy and unhealthy escalate into violence. “Although it is a very difficult time and the government and services are under great pressure, we need to prepare for plans after lockdown. “Supermarket staff could be given basic training about what to do if someone came to them and either said they were in an abusive relationship or used a code word to highlight they need help.”
I was controlled and manipulated and made to feel like I was crazy. I felt trapped in that house and as if I could not reach out to anyone.”“It would start off with lots of questions and playing on my insecurities. If I was going out with friends, he would ask why I didn’t want to stay at home with him.
“He had financial control over me and wanted to know exactly what I was spending my money on. If I did something like move his phone from the table, he would give me Chinese burns. Helen told HuffPost UK she has seen a rise of almost double in new enquiries for mentoring she offers through her social enterprise since lockdown began and has also been contacted by young women who are trapped in lockdown with abusers.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The restaurateurs guiding Trump's coronavirus response should be as diverse as the nation itself. Instead, they're a bunch of old, white menChef and restaurant owner Caroline Glover makes a case for America's independent restaurants, saying the federal response must acknowledge the economic clout and extraordinary diversity of the country's restauranteurs.
Read more »
You can save over £80 on this Le Creuset casserole dish right nowPerfect for lockdown batch-cooking, am I right?
Read more »