SPICE Girl Melanie Brown today implored Rishi Sunak to ramp up funding for domestic abuse services before more women die.
On International Women’s Day, Mel, 48, warned that courts and ministers aren’t doing enough to crack down on society’s “dirty little secret” – the domestic abuse epidemic.
The pop queen, who is a survivor of abuse from her ex-husband, said: “There’s no point just talking about it – we need to implement steps to make sure women feel safe.
“We have to sort out custody issues and make sure survivors are believed in court.
“There are women’s refuges closing – we need funding to come in straight away and to ensure it goes to the right places before more women die.”
Mel added: “The Prime Minister needs to make sure people are educated at every level in every single sector.
“Why is that not being implemented right now?”
READ MORE ON MEL B
The plea came as Britain’s Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs warned services at serious risk of collapse due to a funding crisis in town halls.
Women’s Aid patron Mel this morning joined the charity’s CEO Farah Nazeer, Sun Editor Victoria Newton and Airbnb General Manager of Northern Europe Amanda Cupples for a panel discussion on creating a generation that shows zero tolerance towards violence against women and girls.
At the all-female Allbright Club in Mayfair, the Spice Girl told business leaders it is their responsibility to ensure their staff are safe – before it’s too late.
Most read in Showbiz
This includes monitoring for warning signs that colleagues could be experiencing abuse when they return home from work – or even while they’re at the office.
While Mel worked on America’s Got Talent in LA, every day she feared coming home to her evil ex Stephen Belafonte.
“Simon Cowell banned him from the set,” she said.
“But what would’ve really helped me would’ve been some sort of HR within America’s Got Talent that knew and could spot the signs.”
One in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The vast majority of survivors feel too afraid or ashamed to report the torture they endured.
Meanwhile, domestic abuse costs the economy at least £360m every year.
Women’s Aid have implored businesses to invest in training and cultural change.
The charity today thanked Airbnb, which donated $300,000 to drive forward the cause of protecting women from sick perpetrators.
Marking 50 years of Women’s Aid, Ms Nazeer implored politicians and business chiefs to end the stigma around society’s “dirty little secret”.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
She said: “What we want to do as we enter into our sixth decade is to create a society where domestic abuse is not tolerated.
“It’s no longer society’s dirty secret. It is something that is spoken about and is not tolerated.”
How you can get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
