TV presenter praised for sharing domestic abuse hotline number on hand

A newsreader in the UK has been praised online for presenting on television with the number for a domestic abuse helpline written on the back of her hand.

BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire highlighted the issue of domestic abuse victims being trapped in a dangerous environment during the lockdown. She also urged those in need to use the 24/7 helpline.

Victoria Derbyshire raises awareness by sharing a domestic abuse hotline number on hand

This comes just days after domestic abuse charity Refuge noted that there had been a 25% rise in calls to its helpline since the country was put on nationwide lockdown. Visits to the website have also seen a 150% rise, they said.

Needless to say, a number of viewers took to social media to praise the presenter for raising awareness of the issue, with one person saying: "Huge respect to @vicderbyshire, the number on her hand is for a domestic abuse helpline. Being in lockdown is bad enough, now imagine doing it with someone who terrifies you."

They added: "For anyone who needs it - National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808-2000-247."

Another said: "I have so much time for Victoria Derbyshire. Probably the only high profile BBC journalist that consistently goes out of her way to speak to vulnerable communities re: austerity, deportations etc. The number on her hand here is a domestic violence helpline"

In an interview with The Independent, Derbyshire said this about the gesture:

"Two women a week were killed by a partner or ex before coronavirus. A fact that is shocking enough.

Now, some people will be trapped with a violent perpetrator in self-isolation or partial lockdown and it’s even more vital to get the helpline number out there so people know there is someone right now available to take your call and help you if you are in a violent or threatening situation.

I’d written the number on my hand to tweet a photo of it at 7am this morning and left it on my skin deliberately in case it could help any of the millions watching after 9am on BBC One."

The number cited by Derbyshire is 0808 2000 247, a National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by UK-based Refuge.

In a press statement about the rise in calls and website visits, Sandra Horley CBE, Chief Executive of Refuge said:

"This is an enormous increase which underscores what we already know – domestic abuse is a scourge on society and must be addressed. Two women a week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales.

Domestic abuse is a crime and it must be addressed. We know that some forms of abuse are not as widely recognized as others. Domestic abuse is not just physical violence – it can be misuse of technology, economic abuse and coercive control.

We hope that women seeing our public communications will feel reassured and supported and recognize that what they are experiencing is against the law and not acceptable.

Women are not alone and Refuge is here to provide support. Domestic abuse is a crime, and it is a choice a man makes. Only he is responsible for changing his violent behaviour."