Domestic Violence Victims Advised to Sleep in Occupy Camps Due to Cuts

 VICTIMS of domestic violence in the UK are being forced to sleep in police stations, Occupy camps and hospital waiting rooms, according to leading domestic violence charities.

A new report has revealed that 31% of funding to the sector was cut by local authorities last year, a reduction from £7.8million to £5.4million.

The most recent PSNI statistics, from April 2010 to March 2011, show there were over 23,000 incidents and over 9,000 recorded crimes with a domestic motivation, while it is estimated that there are over 32,000 children living with domestic violence here, according to Patrician Lyness, management coordinator of Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid.

"We used to have a situation where we couldn't quickly place someone in emergency accommodation perhaps once a month. Now it's happening two to three times a week," said Heather Harvey, research and development manager of London-based domestic violence charity Eaves.

"All you can say to them is if you sleep on the street, here are some ways of staying safe, but of course there have been reports of rape at an Occupy Camp in Glasgow, so it is only displacing the burden. Someone has to pick up the human and economic cost further down the line," added Harvey.

"Every area is being hit, and if all routes to safety are being cut back I believe we will see more tragedies, more homicides and lots more women and children living in violent situations.” said Nicola Harwin, chief executive of Women’s Aid.

"I am deeply concerned about this - it is putting women and children in danger and we risk turning back the clock on the important work that has been done to prevent women being put in life-

threatening situations," said shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper.

"These are tough times and everyone is dealing with cuts, but this coalition government has sent out a very clear message about the importance and value it places on this sector. I would rebut very firmly that the sector is in crisis, this government is putting its best foot forward and is committed to ending violence against women and girls," said Home Office minister for equality Lynne Featherstone.

            The report states that cuts have been uneven across localities in the UK and specific details about Northern Ireland are yet to be confirmed.

Women’s Aid is the largest domestic violence charity in Northern Ireland and its branch for Belfast and Lisburn recently received a £900,000 grant from the Lottery Fund.