An “astonishing” 21,000 people became victims of domestic abuse in Gwent over the past three years, partly fuelled by economic hardship brought on by the pandemic and rising cost of living.
Regional experts have warned that violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence are “large scale, pervasive problems” which “every year” cause “needless deaths and damage to thousands of lives” in Wales.
Amy Thomas, a regional lead advisor on the issue, said that “since Covid and the cost-of-living crisis we are seeing all classes of families impacted” by such violence.