Make an enquiry

    Enquiry Form









    Contact

      Enquiry Form






      Supporting Document


      We are welcoming clients back to our offices Find Out More
      FJG Solicitors in Essex, Colchester, Chelmsford, London – Fisher Jones Greenwood
      • 0845 543 5700
      • [email protected]
      • Make an enquiry
      • Online Payment
      • Home
      • Services
        • Services for you
          • Advocacy
          • Civil & Commercial Disputes
          • Clinical and Medical Negligence
          • Conveyancing
          • Employment Law
          • Family Law
          • Children Law
          • Immigration & Visas
          • Notary Services
          • Personal Injury
          • Wills, Life Planning & Probate
        • Services for business
          • Academies Portal
          • Agricultural and Rural
          • Business Immigration
          • Commercial Dispute Resolution
          • Commercial Litigation
          • Professional Negligence
          • Commercial Property
          • Construction Law
          • Planning Consultancy
          • Corporate and Commercial
          • Education Services
          • Employment Law
          • Healthcare Services
          • International Services
          • Landlord & Tenant Services
        • Services by sector
          • Agriculture & Estates
          • Care Homes
          • Charities & Social Enterprise
          • Construction
          • Education Law
          • Energy
          • Family Owned Business
          • Healthcare & Dentistry
      • Our people
      • About us
        • CSR
        • Awards
        • Our Vision
        • Accessibility
        • Careers
        • Work Experience
        • Equality & Diversity
        • FLOCC
        • FJG Foundation
        • SAFE Forum
      • News, Events & Insights
      • Blog
      • Podcasts
      • Contact us
        • Colchester
        • Chelmsford
        • Clacton-on-Sea
        • Billericay
        • Braintree
        • Frinton-on-Sea
        • Holland-on-Sea
        • London

      Covid-19 implications for victims of domestic abuse

      26 March 2020 by Lisa O'Boyle

      Lisa O’Boyle
      domestic abuse covid-19

      The UK Government has announced more restrictive lockdown measures requiring people to stay at home and requiring that they should only leave their home for one of four reasons. More details can be found on the government website here.

      Victims of domestic abuse who may have to be confined with an abuser for a possible minimum of 3 weeks may be at an increased risk of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and/or coercive or controlling behaviour.

      Being confined is stressful and an emotionally challenging time for all of us, but even more so for those who are presently victims of domestic abuse. There are also concerns that abusive behaviour may increase as people’s patience wears out, people’s tempers rise more easily and people’s anger issues may become difficult to manage. Some people may resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol or drug abuse which may, in turn, lead them to being abusive towards their partner or family.

      It is already known that isolation may be used as a tool of coercive and controlling behaviour by perpetrators as they attempt to shut down victims routes to safety and support.

      You can find help to understand the warning signs of abuse on the equation website.

      For useful information about safety planning, read The Women’s Aid Handbook.

      What to do if you are a victim of domestic abuse?

      If you are a victim of domestic abuse there are steps you can take to safeguard yourself, and you also need to consider your duty to safeguard your children, as follows:

      1. Keep a mobile phone with you at all times if possible.
      2. If you are in immediate risk, you should call 999 and the police should be able to assist.

      If you are scared to be overheard by the abuser when calling 999, you can use the Silent Solution system by calling 999 then, instead of speaking to the operator, by pressing 55. The operator will transfer the call to the relevant police force as an emergency.

      If you have symptoms of Covid-19, you may need to notify the police.

      1. You can contact national helplines, email, text and live chat support services

      Due to Covid-19 measures, domestic abuse organisations will function with less staff and may have to work remotely. Therefore, these organisations may have to limit the services that they offer. However, the following support is still available:

      • 24-hour National Domestic Violence, Freephone Helpline, 0808 2000 247
      • Supportline provide telephone helpline and email counselling service.
      • Women’s Aid provide survivors forum, a live chat Monday to Friday 10- 12pm and emails
      • The Next Chapter provide telephone support focusing on safety and support and refuges remain open and taking referrals for any vacancies they may have.

      Below we provide more details and a lengthier list of useful organisations who may be able to assist you.

      1. Advice from domestic abuse organisations, such as Women’s Aid, for those of you who are in potentially dangerous situations, is to prepare, for example as follows:
      • Ensure that you have a plan in place;
      • Pack a bag with clothing essentials, money, phone and charger, and your passport;
      • Let a friend or family member know that they will be your “safe space contact” if anything was to happen. Make arrangements such as somewhere to stay or so that they know that they may need to come and collect you and an agreed place to do this should be made;
      • Identify safe areas of the house where there are no weapons and there are ways to escape where you can move to if an argument occurs;
      • Keep weapons like knives locked away and as inaccessible as possible; and
      • Try not to wear scarves or long jewellery that could be used to strangle you.

      For more details on such advice see the Women’s Aid website and the coronavirus safety advice for survivors.

      1. If you are in a refuge, the Government have issued guidance on isolation for domestic abuse safe accommodation settings which can be found here.

      Refuges do not need to close unless directed to by Public Health England. If you or your children show symptoms whilst in a refuge, you should remain in your own room and follow the self-isolation guidances for households as follows here.

      1. At Fisher Jones Greenwood we are already working remotely and we can arrange telephone and video appointments to advise you on the next steps that may be appropriate in your circumstances. For example, this may be a warning letter to the abuser or, if an associated person, making an urgent application to Court for one of the following orders:
        • A non-molestation order which prohibits certain behaviour or
        • An occupation order which regulates occupation of the family home and can also order one person to leave

      What quickly cam applications can be made?

      Applications can, if there is an immediate risk of harm, be made without notice to the abuser so that protection can be in place before any return hearing, although in the current crisis a return hearing may not be fixed, unless at the request of the respondent after he or she has been served with the order.

      The Court system is obviously under pressure and is developing processes as the situation changes and as more experience is gained. Many of their staff are working remotely and new arrangements are being developed for the issuing and sealing applications and orders.

      The courts have provided guidance that at this time all hearings, especially urgent hearings, are to take continue to take place but that these will take place remotely unless in exceptional circumstances. Remote hearings may take place by telephone or by using Skype for Business, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, for example.

      Local Courts are expected to provide more guidance on this point.

      Of course, the rules that we must follow during this pandemic are constantly changing and the government websites and advice should be checked regularly. If you would like advice about Domestic Abuse issues, please contact our Family Team at 01206 700113 or email [email protected]

      List of domestic abuse organisations

        • Next Chapter– Provide community support, refuge accommodation, children and young person services, counselling, group work. You can call them on 01206500585 /  01206761276
        • Women’s Aid – Provide a live chat service or you can email [email protected].
        • 24-hour National Domestic Violence – Is a Freephone Helpline, call 0808 2000 247.
        • NCDV – National Centre for Domestic Violence – Provide help determining your eligibility for Legal Aid and getting representation for an injunction or, if not eligible for Legal Aid, helping obtain a McKenzie friend to assist you to prepare your application and at Court.
        • Changing Pathways – Provide emotional support and practical assistance, including help to access emergency accommodation, assistance with safety planning, signposting/connection with other agencies, information on rights, benefits and entitlements. (Basildon, Thurrock Refuge)
        • Safer Places – Provides safe accommodation, outreach support from domestic abuse professionals, one to one support and drop-in service (West Essex, Mid Essex and Hertfordshire)
        • Chelmsford Women’s Aid – Support women and children who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse. They can be contacted on 01245 493114.
        • Woman’s Trust – Provide individual counselling, workshops, support groups, crisis counselling. You can call them on 020 7034 0303.
        • Samaritans (24/7 service) – 116 123
        • The Men’s Advice Line – Is for male domestic abuse survivors. You can call them on 0808 801 0327
        • Mankind – Is for male victims of domestic abuse. You can call them on 01823 334244.

       

      Authors
      Archives
      Subscribe to RSS feed

      Recent Posts

      • Worth the wait
      • What is a section 37 report?
      • What is a section 7 report?
      @FJGSolicitors

      We've had a 5* review from Zoe: Moving home https://t.co/4lbJehtq0g

      23 hours

      RT @MistleyCC: How good did the new T20 kit look on Thursday?! 🔥 A massive thanks to @FJGSolicitors for sponsoring our kit this year! https…

      2 days

      We've had a 5* review from Nicholas: EXCELLENT ADVICE AND VERY EFFICIENT https://t.co/4lbJehtq0g

      2 days
      Billericay 01277 623132
      Braintree 01376 552828
      Chelmsford 01245 890110
      Colchester 01206 835300
      Clacton 01255 323103
      Frinton 01255 514100
      Holland-on-Sea 01255 818900
      London 08455 435700
      Sudbury 01787 373387
      • Disclaimer
      • Accessibility
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Privacy Policy
      • Cookies
      • Price & Service
      • Signup to our Newsletter
      • COVID-19 Risk Assessment

      Fisher Jones Greenwood is the trading name of Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP, a Limited Liability Partnership authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and registered in England ( Number: OC305854 ). A list of members is available for inspection at the registered office at Charter Court, Newcomen Way, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 9YA

      This website uses cookies & data collection

      Our website uses cookies, which are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit to distinguish you from other users. They are widely used in order to help website owners like us provide you with the best user experience possible. They also provide us with information that can help us improve our websites and marketing activities. By clicking an item or link on this website, you agree to the use of cookies and other data collection.

      Find out more

      We are welcoming clients back to our offices

      Differing tiers and three lockdowns later, Fisher Jones Greenwood Solicitors are now pleased to be able to welcome clients safely back to our offices.

      Remote working and the digitalisation of the way we work, have been key to keeping FJG and the rest of the country going.

      • We are now able to offer, pre-booked face-to-face appointments. Although, we are still able to offer remote appointments if preferred.
      • You can continue to visit our offices at any time to post any correspondence and documents through letterboxes.

      If you are visiting an FJG office, covid-19 safety rules of social distancing, hand sanitization, and the wearing of masks will still apply.

      • Please be aware you will also need to have your temperature taken on arrival.
      • There will also be protective screens in place to protect you and our staff.

      Please do not hesitate to contact your legal adviser by email or by telephone should you have any worries or concerns. Alternatively, please call our main switchboard number (01206 835300), and a message to return your call will be relayed to the relevant person.

      Best wishes
      Paula Cameron
      Managing Partner