Christmas and the new year should be a time of peace and goodwill but for too many families this ideal will be shattered by domestic violence.
Increased levels of stress, often fuelled by alcohol, can boil over into domestic abuse.
The Gwynedd Community Safety Partnership is urging people not to hide behind closed doors and seek help if they are the victims of domestic abuse.
The Gwynedd Community Safety Partnerships is made up of statutory and non-statutory members including Gwynedd Council, North Wales Police, Fire and Rescue Service the Police Authority as well as voluntary and community organisations. The Partnership’s aim is to tackle crime and disorder and improve the lives of the people of Gwynedd.
Councillor John Wyn Williams, Gwynedd Council’s portfolio leader on Social Care issues, said:
“Those who become victims of domestic violence need not suffer in silence, there is help and support available any hour of the day or night by telephoning the free and confidential Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline.
“Children often witness the violence when they grow up in an abusive family or too often are victims themselves. I would urge anyone who feels trapped in a violent and controlling relationship to reach out and seek help for themselves and their children.”
Domestic abuse affects women from all social and ethnic backgrounds – one in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime, many of these on a number of occasions, and one incident of domestic violence is reported to the police every minute.
It is a frightening fact that, on average, two women a week are killed by a current or former male partner in England and Wales.
Catherine Roberts, Gwynedd Council’s Senior Community Safety Officer, said:
“Whilst domestic abuse may get worse at Christmas, in all likelihood it has already been going on for months and even possibly years.
“On average a woman will be assaulted by her partner or ex partner 35 times before reporting it to the police. I cannot stress enough how important it is for people to seek help.”
Contact the Wales Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 80 10 800.
