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Cornwall has seen an increase in domestic abuse cases, causing charities to call for help from the community.
In the past 4 years Cornwall Council have observed a 40% increase in sexual offences, with Devon and Cornwall police receiving more than 50 domestic abuse reports a day.
Cornwall’s rural location causes further challenges in tackling domestic abuse. Isolation, limited transport links, and a lack of immediate support services often leave victims without help, resultantly charities are campaigingin for greater investment in rural-specific resources, including mobile outreach programs and community-based safe spaces.
They are also urging the government and local authorities to prioritize funding for domestic abuse services in Cornwall. Proposals include increasing police training to recognize subtle signs of abuse, expanding shelter capacities, and running awareness campaigns in schools to help break the stigma surrounding the issue.
Diane Matthews, CEO of Safer Cornwall, the community safety partnership for Cornwall, discussed the need to raise awareness and act as a community in confronting this issue: “We need a collaborative effort to address this crisis. It’s not just a women’s issue; it’s a community issue, and everyone has a role to play in making Cornwall a safer place.”
Sarah Thompson, a spokesperson for the Cornwall Refuge Trust, spoke out: “We’re seeing an increase in not only the number of cases but also the severity, the pandemic left many victims trapped at home with their abusers, and the aftermath is still unfolding.”
In the last year 22,713 domestic abuse crimes were reported in Cornwall, with 69% female victims, 25% male and 6% varying gender identities.
The statistics also revealed that there were 353 domestic homicide victims from March 2021-2023 in England, with 12 in Devon and Cornwall.
Maria Edgecumbe works for Cornwall Refuge Trust, a charity supporting victims of domestic abuse with a 24-hour help line, refuge houses and facilities to form safety plans.
They currently offer 6 female rooms and 5 male rooms, both of which can accommodate children, as well as rooms available for same sex couples fleeing honour based violence.
As well as emergency accommodation, they also provide mental and physical support.
“We support the clients in many ways, we help them access a GP and any other medical services, benefits, housing, counselling, and education/ training dependent on their individual needs. We also provide day to day support which could vary from helping them access legal services, educating on healthy relationships and understanding the abuse cycle to helping them manage cooking, budgeting etc, if they have no experience with this. We also have a child and family worker who works with the children helping them express and understand their own feelings as all the children in one way or another will show signs of trauma.”
“We take referrals directly from the person wishing to flee or a third party eg. housing, police, another domestic abuse service. If a third party refers we would, however, want to speak to the person fleeing to hear their story and check that they want to come to refuge. We need people to know these services are available, we need the community together the word out and start spotting signs.”
We spoke to someone who used these services after being in an abusive marriage, for privacy their name has been redacted.
“It started subtly, small things, he’d just get angry very quickly and play lots of mind games. And then it was things like he’d withhold money, he wouldn’t let me eat when I wanted to and he tried to cut me off from my family a lot. Then over the course of 2 years it turned into physical abuse- hitting, kicking, punching.”
It is estimated that one in three women in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will be affected during their lifetime.
“I was reluctant to get help. I wanted to tell my family about what was going on, but I felt so ashamed- this was the man I was meant to love and I felt stupid for the fact that despite how awful; he was to me, I still loved him and didn’t want to leave. It’s very scary to leave, you think it’s going to get worse, it’s going to make them more angry. But eventually my neighbour got into contact with Cornwall Refuge Trust as they had heard it going on from next door and had seen my bruising. That started the process. They sorted some emergency housing for me and helped me work through it all and really just rebuild my life again.”
“They were incredible, they really did save my life, I just wish more people knew they existed, it would help so many more people if the word was spread.That’s where we need the community’s help.”
Cornwall Refuge Trust wanted to highlight the importance of “Recognising that abuse comes in many forms and is not just physical and it occurs in all walks of life and across all ages.”
Domestic abuse is a growing crisis in Cornwall, but with increased awareness and action, many are hopeful for change.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, visit saferfutures.org.uk or call 0300 777 4777 for help.