Safety partnership warns of drink-fuelled domestic abuse

The Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership is encouraging victims of domestic abuse to seek help.

The partnership has warned that the start of the Six Nations rugby championship, coupled with heavy drinking, could be a trigger for violent behaviour in the home.

It has said that research suggests that 39% of domestic abuse incidents involve alcohol and that during major sporting events, incidents of domestic abuse increase because people tend to drink more.

The Safer Caerphilly Multi Agency Centre (MAC) is a one-stop-shop for victims of domestic abuse and their families, and is there to offer help and support. The centre provides professional support from a range of agencies.

The aim of the centre is to minimise the number of different agencies that victims of domestic abuse and their families need to get in contact with to seek the help they need.

The key partners involved at the MAC include the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership’s statutory bodies including Caerphilly County Borough Council, Gwent Police and Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board, as well as Caerphilly Women’s Aid, BAWSO, Victim Support and Gwent Alcohol Project (GAP).

Councillor Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment, said: “I really cannot stress enough how much of a positive difference the Safer Caerphilly MAC has made to so many victims of domestic abuse and their families. I would urge anyone who is reading this and who is suffering domestic abuse to seek help.

“There are people that can help you and your family, so please do not suffer in silence.”