Coronavirus

National lockdown: stay at home

• Coronavirus (COVID‑19) remains a serious threat across the country.
• Do not leave your home unless necessary.
• 1 in 3 people who have the virus have no symptoms, so you could be spreading it without knowing it.

Find out what the rules are at GOV.UK

Service update

During this Coronavirus pandemic the Supporting Victims Team have been working creatively to ensure we are still able to provide a service to North Yorkshire Victims of Crime. We are confident that service will not be too severely disrupted.

The team are all working from home and will continue to be available between the reduced hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday only.

You can still contact them on 01609 643100 or email them at [email protected].

There may be a delay in answering your call at the moment so wherever possible please email the team and they will pick your messages up as soon as they can.

Onward referral can still be made to all our commissioned services including; IDAS, Victim Support, Counselling and Restorative Justice; all remain open for business and are accepting referrals.

Domestic abuse

If you are isolated with abusive people whose behaviour is escalating due to increasing uncertainty, pressure on finances and cramped conditions, help is available.

We are working closely with IDAS to provide vital services in very difficult circumstances.

You

If you are facing isolation with an abusive person, IDAS offer safety planning advice on their website.

You could also consider:

• Getting a spare phone and store emergency contact numbers in it and hide it in a safe place or with a trusted person
• Keeping your ID documents, emergency funds, bank cards and children’s birth certificates to hand
• Speaking to your neighbours and ask them to ring the police if they hear or see anything
• Setting up safe words with friends so they know to call for help on your behalf
• Planning to check in with people regularly so that they can raise the alarm if they don’t hear from you
• Planning to escape to the garden or to a room that you can exit from easily if abusive behaviour escalates
• Avoiding rooms where there could be weapons if the abusive behaviour escalates

For more information email IDAS on [email protected] or call Supporting Victims on 01609 643100, email: [email protected]

Other people

If you are worried about a friend; family member; neighbour, or colleague, this advice could help to provide a lifeline:

• Check in with them regularly, if it is safe to do so
• Ask if there is anything that you can look out for that might indicate they need help
• Set up a code word to indicate that help is needed
• Call the Police if you hear or see anything that could indicate a potential risk
• Look at the safety planning advice on the IDAS Website

IDAS Live Chat for victims of domestic abuse

IDAS are extending their online Live Chat to help ensure that support is available, even if you are isolated with someone you are afraid of.

Live Chat is available Monday to Friday between 4pm and 6pm via https://www.idas.org.uk.

Visit the website during these times and you will see a Live Chat Box appear at the bottom of the screen.

Type your question into this box and you will be able to chat directly with one of their specialist workers.