Gwent: 21,000 domestic abuse victims in three years

Covid and the cost-of-living crisis have fuelled a rise in domestic abuse cases

An “astonishing” 21,000 people became victims of domestic abuse in Gwent over the past three years, partly fuelled by economic hardship brought on by the pandemic and rising cost of living.

Regional experts have warned that violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence are “large scale, pervasive problems” which “every year” cause “needless deaths and damage to thousands of lives” in Wales.

Why is Caerphilly in Gwent?

Caerphilly County Borough was formed on April 1, 1996, by the merger of the Rhymney Valley district of Mid Glamorgan with the Islwyn borough of Gwent.

Administratively, for local services such as the police and health, the borough now falls under a wider region referred to as Gwent. This comprises the council areas of Caerphilly, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.

Amy Thomas, a regional lead advisor on the issue, said that “since Covid and the cost-of-living crisis we are seeing all classes of families impacted” by such violence.

Before the cost-of-living crisis, families “might have been well-off”, but due to growing pressures on finances “their relationships may be changing as a result”, leading to “abuse becoming prevalent”.

Demand for “crucial” support services is high, but there are concerns their work could be limited by piecemeal funding, which comes from an array of charities and government grants.

Figures presented to a Newport City Council committee show that between January 2020 and December 2022, Gwent Police recorded incidents with 21,558 victims of domestic abuse and a further 109 incidents of honour-based abuse.

The force recorded 16,780 reports of serious sexual offences, and 921 people were referred to counselling for sexual violence and abuse.

Craiyon

21,000 people have been victims of domestic abuse in Gwent over the past three years

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