Available domestic abuse data
Northumbria Police recorded 5,522 domestic abuse incidents in North Tyneside in 2023/24. This was a 9.2% increase on the previous year. These domestic abuse incidents produced 3,179 victims. Around 2,314 (72.8%) were female and 862 (27.1%) were male. Between June 2021 and March 2024, few victims identified by Northumbria Police were aged over 55 or between 16 and 17.
Several data sources indicate significantly higher rates of domestic abuse incidents in North Tyneside’s most deprived wards. These are the borough’s southernmost wards including Riverside, Chirton, Howdon and Wallsend.1 Lower rates of domestic abuse are recorded in North Tyneside’s least deprived wards. These are the easternmost coastal wards including St. Mary’s and Monkseaton North. There may be under reporting of domestic abuse in these areas.
Between 2019/20 and 2023/24, the number of domestic abuse presentations to North Tyneside Council’s Housing and Property Services increased by more than two-thirds (67.6%). An increasing number of households are now placed in emergency bed and breakfast accommodation as demand for safe accommodation outstrips supply.
Data sources also suggest a need to more effectively and proactively identify older victims of domestic abuse. Following outreach work by the Council’s Housing Domestic Abuse Advisor, eight domestic abuse referrals came from North Tyneside Living (NTL) in quarter one of 2024/25. There had been zero NTL referrals in the whole of 2023/24.
The demand for many of North Tyneside’s domestic abuse services is increasing. Generally, the demand for services is exceeding their capacity. In 2023/24, Harbour Support Services received 3,155 referrals in North Tyneside. This was an increase of 10.5% from 2022/23 and was 14.5% higher than the number of referrals received in 2021/22.
Acorns received 73 referrals in quarter one of 2024/25. This was 40.4% more than in quarter one of the previous year. The high demand for domestic abuse services is evidenced by Acorns waiting lists which, as of 31 March 2024, were 3-5 months for children’s counselling and 6 months for outreach services.