Priti Patel unveils £2m boost to help domestic abuse victims ‘trapped in horrific cycle’ during lockdown – The Sun

The home secretary made the announcement as she revealed reports of domestic abuse cases had increased by 120 per cent since the outbreak.

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Miss Patel hopes that the You Are Not Alone campaign will help those trapped in a "horrific cycle" at home.

She called on the public to look out for each other and carrying on showing  "amazing community spirit".

During No10 daily press conference, Ms Patel said: “National domestic abuse helpline reported a 120 per cent increase of calls received in one 24 hours.

This increase in seeking help is extremely concerning. But have no doubt there will be no let-up in our operational response.

“This increase in seeking help is extremely concerning. But have no doubt there will be no let-up in our operational response.”

Ms Patel said her new national campaign will signpost victims how they can report abuse in a safe way.

She told the press conference: "Importantly, it will tell them they are not alone.

"Coronavirus has opened Britain's enormous heart and shown our love and compassion for one another as we come together to help those in need.

"I am now asking our nation to embrace that compassion and community spirit to help those suffering from domestic abuse."

The campaign, which will use the #YouAreNotAlone hashtag will encourage the public to show support for victims by sharing a photo of a heart on their palm.

Ms Patel explained that the £2million in funding will bolster domestic abuse helplines and online support.

DEATH TOLL

It comes as the coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen to 9,875 today – with the youngest victim just 11 years old.

That is a leap of 917 in the last 24 hours up from yesterday's total of 8,958 as the country remains in lockdown battling against the virus.

Almost 2,000 Brits have now died in hospital in the past 48 hours after catching the bug.

Yesterday Britain's coronavirus death toll jumped by 980 in 24 hours – making it the biggest rise yet and more deadly than Spain's worst day of their outbreak (961).

The death toll continues to climb as officials believe new Covid-19 infections will peak on Easter Sunday and the NHS is braced for a "tsunami" of cases this weekend.

The total number of UK cases is now 79,991, with 5,234 new cases in the past 24 hours.

NHS England said this afternoon the 823 more who have died in England were between 11 and 102 years old.

And 33 of those patients – between 29 and 94 years old – had no known underlying health condition.

Matt Hancock told yesterday's No 10 press conference the devastating figures did not mean the NHS is being "overrun" by the pandemic.

He said: "I'm very pleased, that thus far in this crisis, there is no point where the NHS has been overrun, and every single person with coronavirus has been able to access the best possible care in the NHS, because we have taken the action to expand the NHS."

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