THIS National Rural Crime Action Week, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth is joining forces with Northumberland Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS) to highlight domestic abuse in rural communities – and crucially – the help that’s available.
Often isolated victims of rural crime face unique challenges – and that includes domestic abuse victims. These victims often face prolonged suffering, difficulty accessing support and fears around community stigma.
Domestic abuse accounts for 20% of total crime in the Northumbria Police Force area, and 97% of the land in Northumberland is classed as rural.
Domestic abuse in rural communities affects people of all genders and ages, with abuse lasting, on average, 25% longer than in urban areas, according to the National Rural Crime Network. In 2024–25, NDAS supported 555 adult survivors of domestic abuse and responded to 6,909 domestic abuse incidents in Northumberland, over 40% of which involved children.
Rural locations can often be exploited by abusers who use remoteness and isolation as a control tactic. NDAS has supported clients who have had legally held firearms and farming equipment used to threaten and intimidate them. NDAS recently provided critical help to a 56-year-old by working with the police to remove firearms from the home and reclaim control over her life.
Another victim, a 61-year-old woman who lived on a remote farm was subjected to technology-enabled surveillance and isolation. NDAS crafted safety plans, supported her legal action, and helped her regain financial independence.
A key area of concern for the Commissioner is that reports suggest rural victims are half as likely to report abuse compared to those living in more built up, urban areas. She wants to use Rural Crime Action Week help raise awareness and encourage women and men to break free from abusive relationships and for members of our rural communities to speak out and support those suffering in silence.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth said: “We often think of our rural communities in an idyllic sense, but rural doesn’t mean safe from abuse – it means we must look harder.
“This week is about amplifying voices that are too often left unheard. Isolation can heighten risks around domestic abuse, but awareness and the right support can help end it.”
“I want to reassure anyone suffering that help is there and that Northumbria Police take reports of domestic abuse very seriously. We have brilliant support services too, like NDAS, who always go the extra mile to ensure support reaches those in need, sometimes travelling long distances, in dangerous, challenging conditions to reach victims.
“Education is also key”, she added. “Through my office we are funding programmes and supporting the work of a partners to ensure young people can recognise the signs of abuse and know where to turn for help.
“The tragic murder of 15-year-old Holly Newton in Hexham reminds us all that early education and awareness are vital. National Rural Crime Action Week is not just about raising awareness—it is about action, support, and change.”
Sharon Brown CEO from NDAS, which supports victim-survivors from Berwick to Haltwhistle, echoed that no victim is too far to reach. She said: “At NDAS we pride ourselves on literally going the extra mile. This is crucial in a county with half of its population living in rural and isolated areas. Our 22-year history of providing vital support to victims-survivors means we both know and are known in rural communities across Northumberland. We are also working hard to prevent domestic abuse through providing prevention education, last year working with over 3500 children and young people in 29 schools. NDAS continues to take action, to provide essential support when and where it is needed and works to create change for the future.”
Chief Inspector Andrew Stephenson, of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, said: “As a Force, we’re committed to tackling domestic abuse and protecting those most vulnerable within our society.
“We recognise that those living in rural areas may experience domestic abuse in different forms than those who are living in urban areas, with different concerns and challenges as a result of more remote locations.
“That’s why it’s so important that police, and other services, tailor their support accordingly.”
Chief Inspector Stephenson added: “We have dedicated domestic abuse specialists in our contact centres to provide expert advice when responding to victims to help ensure they are safeguarded and receive the support they need – wherever in our region that may be.
“And nationally, there is greater awareness of taking domestic-abuse related crimes forward to prosecution with an evidence led approach, to better support vulnerable victims, providing us with further opportunities to safeguard those who need protection.
“We would always encourage anyone who has been a victim of abuse to come forward, either to ourselves or one of the dedicated support agencies. There is so much support available.”
