Rural areas are the ‘perfect breeding ground’ for domestic abuse, Cotswolds councillor says
The darker side of rural isolation during the lockdown is appropriately raised in my view by this article. It tells us:
When most people think of rural England, they think of peace, tranquillity and a slower way of life.
However, although a close relationship with nature and less noise from traffic can do wonders for some, the silence can be deafening for those trapped in abusive relationships.
Whilst the lockdown means that a lot of us are safe at home, this is not necessarily true for those who are now stuck at home with their abuser.
This situation is made worse for those living in remote areas, where the already-strained services have been made even more sparse by the pandemic.
Cotswolds District Councillor Jenny Forde (LD, Chedworth and Churn Valley), cabinet member for health, wellbeing, and public safety and chairman of Cotswolds Community Safety Partnership, has described isolated rural areas as ‘the perfect breeding ground’ for domestic abuse.
“I think the big thing is that the way abusers work, particularly with coercive control, is that they tend to try and isolate the victim. They try and cut off the connections [the victim has] with other people, and stop them from going out and seeing them,” she said.
“So actually, in a rural area like ours which many of us enjoy, it’s the perfect breeding ground for maintaining that isolation. For example, someone drove off with the kids’ car seats in the car so [the victim] couldn’t go out with the kids.”