A SURVEY highlighting the desperate plight of female victims of domestic abuse in the West Midlands during the cost of living crisis has been taken to Parliament.
West Midlands Victims’ Commissioner Nicky Brennan has handed her investigation to Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence Jess Phillips MP at the House of Commons.
The report contains numerous accounts from female victims of abuse, whose situation has been made even worse by spiralling bills.
Many of those who took part said they were now unable to leave their abuser or had been further controlled by economic abuse.
West Midlands Victims’ Commissioner Nicky Brennan said: “Their harrowing stories and cries for help cannot be ignored or brushed aside by government any longer.
“In the four months it has taken to research and write this report we have had three Prime Ministers.
“The chaotic and shambolic leadership has delayed action, caused further instability and consequences for victims in which the government must take responsibility for the harm they have caused and move quickly to address this before issues get worse.”
Handing in the findings, Nicky Brennan demanded the government take seven steps to help victims of abuse.
They are an increased uplift to victims’ services, a commitment to provide a multi-year funding strategy in line with inflation, an overhaul of child maintenance service, a commitment for increased number of specialist refuge bed spaces in West Midlands, an overhaul how Universal Credit works for victims of domestic abuse, a commitment for benefits to rise in line with inflation and a commitment to working towards a whole culture change.
Ms Phillips said: “I do all I can to support victims of domestic abuse and will use this report in future work, this includes using Nicky’s recommendations as parliamentary questions for the Prime Minister.”
