Safety First: Supporting Domestic Abuse Victims in East Riding This Christmas

The festive season is traditionally a time for celebration, but for many in our community, it is a period of heightened risk. The pressures of the holidays—increased time at home, financial strain, and alcohol consumption—can often escalate domestic tensions and abuse.

​East Riding officials and advocates are sending a clear message this December: You are not alone, and help is available.

​Understanding the Scope of Abuse
​Domestic abuse is often a hidden crisis, occurring behind closed doors in every type of neighborhood, from affluent rural villages to busy urban centers. In 2025 alone, there were 31,273 reported cases of domestic abuse in Humberside.

​It is also important to recognise that abuse is not always physical. Since the law changed in 2021, the legal definition of domestic abuse includes:
​Financial abuse (controlling money or access to funds)
​Emotional abuse
​Controlling and coercive behavior

​"Domestic abuse is an offence and will be charged accordingly," says Josh Babarinde MP, who has championed legislative changes to ensure abusers can no longer hide behind general convictions. "Growing up in a home with domestic abuse, I know first-hand the devastating impact on survivors."

​🚨 How to Get Help Now
​If you are in immediate danger or feel unsafe, please use the following resources.

​Emergency Assistance
​Immediate Danger: Call 999. Trained police staff can intervene and, if necessary, move victims and children to a place of safety.

​Domestic Violence and Abuse Partnership (DVAP): For advice, safety planning, or emotional support:
​Main Line: 01482 396368
​Out-of-Hours Emergency: 01377 241273
​Online: Visit the East Riding Council Website for immediate safety planning tools.

​Holiday Hours
​While the DVAP office will close on Christmas Eve and reopen for general advice on January 2, 2026, please remember that emergency services and the police remain fully operational 24/7 throughout the bank holidays.

​A Comprehensive Support Network
​The East Riding of Yorkshire Council works alongside Humberside Police and organisations like Blue Door to provide a safety net for survivors. If you need to leave your home, the DVAP team works directly with housing services to provide:
-​Safe Houses: Dedicated spaces within the East Riding for victims in crisis.
​-Housing Assistance: Temporary accommodation and support for those dispersed from home or forced to leave.
​-Specialist Support: Coordinated emotional care between the council, police, and voluntary agencies during the transition.

​A Community Commitment to Change
​Local leaders are working to ensure that the justice system better protects survivors. Councillor Linda Johnson, a White Ribbon Champion and trained Domestic Abuse Practitioner and Vice Chair of East Riding of Yorkshire Council; has been a driving force in this mission since 2019.

​"Violence against Women and Girls is the scourge of society," says Cllr Johnson. "We are committed to teaching children about healthy relationships, training citizens as active bystanders to call out misogynistic behaviors, and ensuring agencies like Blue Door and the voluntary sector provide seamless support."

​These programs, including Active Bystander Training, help citizens identify and call out behaviors before they escalate. "As Liberal Democrats, who want a fair and free society, we are committed to all initiatives to teach children about healthy relationships and to support all agencies in joint working," adds Cllr Linda Johnson. "We want victims and their families to receive seamless support exactly when they need it.”

​You Are Not Alone
​No one should have to suffer in silence. If you are worried about yourself or a loved one this Christmas, please reach out. There is a network of support waiting to help you find safety and a fresh start.

"Since my election as Ward Councillor in 2019, I have been deeply committed to domestic safety. My very first case involving a mother seeking to leave an unhealthy relationship for the sake of her child’s wellbeing, served as a catalyst for my work. 
Witnessing her courage to leave an abusive relationship for her child's sake, galvanised me into finding out more about safeguarding, domestic abuse and how to help women (and men) in such situations." Cllr Linda Johnson 

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