Title: Lincolnshire Woman’s Appeal: ‘I Lived in Terror Due to Council Neglect’
A woman from Lincolnshire, who preferred to be known as Jane, has shared her disturbing account of feeling in danger within the confines of her own home over a period of six months, subsequent to escaping an abusive relationship. Although categorised as high risk, Jane’s rental property was left unsecure due to a faulty door lock, compelling her to blockade herself in nightly with everyday items. This predicament emerged as a consequence of North Kesteven District Council’s postponement in introducing target hardening measures, which, as per government policy, should be implemented within a few days.
The nightmare for Jane started after she split from her partner in May 2024, anticipating swift security improvements that unfortunately never took place, leaving her in a perpetual state of terror. “Every time I glanced at the door, it made me feel nauseous,” recalled Jane, depicting nights overrun with anxiety and insomnia. Her ordeal brings to light the wider issue identified by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, who reproached the unequal enforcement of security measures across different regions, which often leaves victims exposed to danger.
This urgent requirement for effective security measures is further highlighted by the unfortunate 2021 incident involving Bethany Vincent and her son who were killed by a former partner despite having a restraining order against him. Bethany’s mother, Caroline Vincent, is convinced that properly enforced target hardening could have averted the tragedy. She is advocating for systematic changes to efficiently safeguard victims and firmly believes that numerous lives, including her daughter’s, could have been spared.
Responding to the public uproar, the government has admitted the deficiencies and has promised to increase funding for domestic abuse services, with the goal of creating an environment where victims can live free from fear.
This story was sourced by The Lincoln Post from original news coverage by www.bbc.com.
