Coronavirus outbreak: 120 per cent increase in calls to UK’s national domestic abuse helpline, minister says

U.K. Interior Minister Priti Patel said during Saturday’s coronavirus briefing that the national domestic abuse help-line had reported a 120 per cent increase in a 24-hour period. The numbers come as Patel’s own ministry announced the same day it would commit £2 million to domestic abuse services and launch a new campaign to help those experiencing abuse at home during the coronavirus lockdown.
Patel also warned during the briefing that fraudsters were exploiting coronavirus, with the losses to victims already exceeded £1.8 million and that perpetrators were taking advantage of the fact that more young children are at home to commit online child abuse crimes.