In the first six months of 2022, Safe Home still gave 66,215 advice to victims, bystanders and professionals. In the first six months of this year, there were 84,935, according to figures from statistics agency CBS.
Safe Home is happy with the increase. “People know how to find us much better and know more often that they can call anonymously. It’s coming out of the taboo. We see that reflected in the figures,” spokesperson Maaike Krielaart tells NU.nl. “Giving advice is low-threshold and therefore we are more often there earlier.”
This is of great importance because 1.3 million people in the Netherlands are dealing with domestic violence, Krielaart says. So compared to the number of advice and reports, that is many times more often.
Asking Safe Home for advice is a lot more accessible than reporting, explains chairperson Judith Kuypers. This is because with such a request for advice there is no direct action. “With such an advice, people can sometimes take steps themselves, possibly improving a situation in a household without the need for a report.” This chart shows the number of advisories and reports over the years:
They are also increasing. In the first six months of 2022, 60,040 notifications were received. That number rose 10 percent to 66,270 reports in the first six months of this year. About half of the reports involve (suspected) child abuse. 38 percent of the reports involved (suspected) partner and ex-partner violence.
By far the most reports (68 percent) come from the police or justice system. “That is worrisome,” says Krielaart. “Because when they make a report, there is already an escalation. You obviously want it not to have to come to a report.”
Krielaart also sees a positive development. “Four out of ten citizens call Safe Home themselves, where before it was mostly professionals.” This means that victims are also calling themselves and neighbors or bystanders are more attentive. There is more willingness to seek help.
