BARRY Town Council’s recent decision to request the removal of Punch and Judy from the Eats, Beats and Treats event to be held on Barry Island on June 4 and 5 has certainly generated a significant amount of media coverage both locally and nationally.

The lively debate that ensued, illustrated a raft of opinions about whether the decision was right or wrong, it also put domestic abuse into the media spotlight and provided the opportunity to highlight the impact and prevalence of domestic abuse.

There have been 4.6 million women in England and Wales who have experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16 (1). An estimated 75,000 children and young people, across the UK witness or experience domestic abuse every year (2) and a significant proportion experience abuse in their own relationships (3).

Last year in Barry, the police reported that there were 1,417 individual victims of domestic violence and the police attended 1,908 incidents. However, these figures are only reflective of police data and we know that most incidences of domestic abuse and violence are not reported to the police or another agency.

As a town council that is committed to tackling domestic abuse and all forms of violence against women we would urge anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse to report to the police. However, not everyone is in a position to report, therefore it is vital that we promote support that is available nationally and locally.

Atal y Fro is a confidential local service for people living in the Vale and experiencing and or perpetrating domestic abuse. They provide services for women, men and children and can be contacted on 01446 744755 and have a website atalyfro.org

Alternatively the Welsh Government funds a national Live Fear Free Helpline. The helpline provides information and support to women, men and children who are affected by domestic abuse; it also provides support to family members and professionals.

It’s a bilingual, confidential service and is available 24/7 and can put you in touch with services in your local area. The helplines specialist staff can be contacted on 0808 801 0800, website: http://livefearfree.gov.wales/?lang=en or http://livefearfree.gov.wales/?skip=1&lang=cy for Welsh speakers.

RESPECT run a confidential national helpline offering advice, information and support for anyone concerned about their abusive or violent behaviour towards a partner or ex-partner and can be contacted on 0800 803 4040, website respectphoneline.org.uk

Councillor Emma Powell,

Leader of Barry Town Council

References:

1. Office for National Statistics (2015), citing The Crime Survey for England and Wales 2013/14

2. Department of Health, 2002 “Women’s Mental Health: Into the Mainstream: Strategic development of mental health care for women”.

3. NSPCC – Radford, L et al (2011) Child abuse and neglect in the UK today