HAMPSHIRE County Council is supporting a 16-day campaign against domestic violence after figures reveal tens of thousands are victims across the county.
The Action Against Domestic Violence initiative comes after figures reveal an estimated 44,000 women and 25,000 men in Hampshire experience domestic abuse each year.
And one in four women and one in six men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, says the council member for public health, Cllr Patricia Stallard.
She said: “Domestic abuse has far-reaching effects on individuals, families and communities, and the council and partner agencies are committed to tackling it.
“Because of its complexity, domestic abuse can’t be tackled in isolation, so critical to delivering this aim is working in partnership and taking a multi-agency approach.”
Central to this was the launch last year of the Integrated domestic abuse service for Hampshire (IDASH) offering a confidential support service to women, men, children and young people experiencing domestic abuse.
The service consists of community based floating support and outreach services, Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVA) support, dedicated support services for children and families, and crisis accommodation.
Victims of abuse, and those working with them, can contact the service on 03300 165 112 to get immediate information as well as referral to the most appropriate service for ongoing help.