Torfaen Member of Parliament and Shadow Home Secretary Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP visited the TSB branch in Cwmbran today, which is 1 of the 290 branches across the UK which is offering Safe Spaces for victims of domestic abuse.

Launched in partnership with domestic abuse charity Hestia and its UK SAYS NO MORE campaign, Safe Spaces provides a private room for victims of domestic abuse to speak to a trained member of staff, phone a helpline, talk to a friend, contact a support service, the local police force, or talk to a friend or family member.

TSB is the first high street bank to offer the scheme and joins 5,300 pharmacies in providing Safe Spaces for victims. Safe Spaces was initially developed during the pandemic in response to the rising numbers of domestic abuse victims throughout the first lockdown, and there are now over 5,600 Safe Spaces nationwide. Hestia has seen an increase in domestic abuse cases over the last year, including a 30% increase during the latest lockdown leading to a surge in demand for support to victims.

On visiting TSB, the Torfaen MP said: ‘I am delighted to visit TSB in Cwmbran to discuss their Safe Spaces initiative that has been launched alongside Hestia. It is so important that victims of domestic abuse get the vital help and support they need, and I thank both TSB and Hestia for the work they are doing to provide this.

Addressing domestic abuse is one of my top priorities as Shadow Home Secretary, and it is deeply worrying that Hestia has seen cases of domestic abuse increase during the pandemic. It is shameful that the Conservative Government are not bringing forward the funding needed to address these crimes.’