By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 17,300 people called a domestic abuse charity helpline in Nottingham in the space of a year.
The huge volume of calls flooded in to the Juno Women’s Aid 24-hour helpline between April 2021 and March 2022.
The figure was revealed during a Nottingham City Council scrutiny meeting on January 4, during which discussions around the Nottingham Crime and Drugs Partnership took place.
The partnership is made up of organisations including the council which work together to tackle crime, domestic abuse and substance use.
Chairman Vernon Coaker described the figures as “phenomenal”.
Mr Coaker, former Labour MP for Gedling and now a member of the House of Lords, said: “Those figures that Juno read out are phenomenal.
“They reflect the fact, not that it was not happening before, but actually it was a crime that went unreported and was hidden from public view.
“And now the work all of you have done with Juno, thousands of people are coming forward, thousands of people who, in the past, would not have been helped, would not have been supported and are now being helped and supported.”
Juno Women’s Aid is the largest domestic abuse organisation in the city and county which has been supporting women, children and young people for more than 40 years.
In total 17,320 calls were made to its 24-hour helpline, which is operated by a team of eight women as well as extra volunteers.
A spokeswoman for Juno added: “Juno offers a range of services.
“We have got our survivor advocacy support services, work running across all risk levels, throughout their journey, building up that relationship and trust.
“We have justice services supporting women through the criminal and civil justice processes. We help people who have experienced stalking.”
Some 2,095 women were further supported by these services over the same period, alongside 360 children and young people.
More than 400 domestic abuse survivors were also supported through the court system, as well as 96 women who had no access to public funds, such as those who are homeless.
Domestic abuse will remain a priority for the Crime and Drugs Partnership in 2022/23, the group said.
The Juno helpline is open 24 hours a day on 0808 800 0340.
