The holiday season is unfortunately a time when domestic abuse cases tend to rise, especially for women in England. According to Refuge, the leading support service in England, calls to the national domestic abuse helpline in 2023 remained significantly higher than before the pandemic, with 171,490 calls in the year ending March 2023. Rachel Hall’s report for The Guardian highlights this concerning trend. The charity warns that Christmas brings specific challenges such as social isolation and increased costs, which are exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis. Women’s Aid, another charity running a winter appeal, is bracing for the usual 15 percent increase in cases that typically follows the festive season. Law firm Slater Heelis, known for its expertise in family law, has already noted a significant annual rise in domestic violence calls, estimating a 20 percent increase compared to last year and a 30 percent increase compared to 2019.
