Valentine's Day crackdown on domestic abuse in Spalding and South Holland

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Lincolnshire Police are urging victims of domestic abuse in Spalding and South Holland to report the crime as part of a  Valentine's Day campaign.

A series of posters have been created on the Valentine's Day theme with the message that "Not Everyone Has A Great Time on Valentine's Day".

Police say more than 6,500 incidents of domestic crime were reported in Lincolnshire last year, and believe that many more incidents are not reported and that the figure is on the increase.

One in four women and one in six men will be victims of domestic abuse at some point in their lives.

Nationally, domestic abuse claims the lives of two women each week with over a quarter of all violent crime being domestic abuse.

Domestic Abuse accounts for a 35 percent of all murders.

Domestic Abuse - Further Statistics

• Figures show that victims only contact the police after an average of 35 assaults.
• 77 percent of those suffering 4 or more incidents are women.
• One incident of domestic abuse is reported to the police every minute.
• 39 percent of domestic abuse cases involve alcohol.
• Domestic abuse crime has the highest rate of repeat victimisation.
• Domestic abuse cuts across all sections of society, regardless of class, profession, race, age, faith or sexuality. For many people suffering domestic abuse though, it is often the emotional and financial abuse, not just the physical, which destroys their lives.

Sarah Norburn, Lincolnshire Police domestic abuse co-ordinator, says: "Many people may still see domestic abuse as a private issue. But it isn't.

"It is a crime, and just with any other criminal act, information is needed to help make arrests and build prosecution cases.

"Domestic abuse is one of the most harrowing crimes; for someone to be physically, mentally, financially or sexually abused by someone they love and trust is hard for most people to imagine.

"These perpetrators must be bought to justice so if you are experiencing abuse please call Lincolnshire Police on 999 in an emergency, or on 01522 532222 in a non-emergency.

"You are not trapped; there is help available, so talk to someone."

If you know anyone being abused or that is doing the abusing, you can also report any information via Crimestoppers anonymously as a third party, 0800 555 111.