The UK’s lockdown measures, announced on 23 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on encouraging people to stay at home to keep themselves and their communities safe. But for those living with perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse (DVA), such isolation is potentially more dangerous than catching the virus. Shortly after the lockdown began, charities, police and other frontline support services began reporting a huge surge in victims/survivors seeking help and support, which has placed additional strain on a sector already functioning beyond its capacity. In addition to the increase in demand, social distancing has had a huge impact on the day-to-day working practices of these services which are at the frontline of responding to this ‘double pandemic’—the spread of COVID-19 coupled with the subsequent rise of DVA in lockdown.

This research explores the impact of the pandemic on DVA within (what are commonly known as) Black and minority ethnic communities as they seek to support victims/survivors, and explore the practice, financial and policy implications during and beyond this pandemic which follows more than a decade of austerity-related funding cuts to the sector.

Drawing upon interviews with victims/survivors from BME communities and practitioners working in BME specialist DVA services in Britain, the findings will identify best practice and policy recommendations that can offer meaningful support to BME victims/survivors of DVA and help us protect them, now and during future pandemics.

Initial findings from this research are available here.