Domestic abuse cases triggered by alcohol rose in Sheffield during the first lockdown

Inspire to Change, a programme which perpetrators can voluntarily take part in, also saw increased issues with substance misuse.

There were large rises in referrals relating to alcohol, especially during the bank holiday periods of lockdown.

Sheffield Council said the service was designed for groups and because interventions now had to be one-to-one, capacity was extremely stretched. There was also no Covid funding from the government for services focusing on perpetrators.

Alison Higgins of Sheffield Council said: "We can't ignore perpetrators, particularly the ones who want to change their behaviour.

"If you are convicted of a crime the probation service does behavioural change programmes but we have committed across South Yorkshire to a revolutionary programme for people who want to change their behaviour whether or not they have been convicted.

"Take up of that support has gone up and completion of the programme has gone up.

"We have a YouTube channel with advice about regulating behaviour and last year we did a Christmas campaign so we are really trying to push this.

"De Hood boxing centre has agreed to do some work around the awareness of domestic abuse so that's really exciting and the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit developed work with schools and young people which ties in with relationships and sex education classes."

Ms Higgins said abuse was not created by the pandemic and while it had terrible impacts during lockdown, it did so before as well.

"We must invest in services for all those impacted by domestic abuse - victims, children and perpetrators - and increase capacity to ensure needs are met.

"We need to invest in voluntary support for perpetrators. Professionals must be trained to understand how to talk about domestic abuse with perpetrators in order to protect children and victims."

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