The Covid-19 health crisis will place at least 16,000 children at a greater risk of domestic abuse over the Christmas period, according to research by the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF).

The charity warns that home working and the possibility of further restrictions to stop the spread of the Omicron variant will put additional strain on family life and increase the risk of violence in the home.

The EIF’s research is based on figures from the NSPCC, which estimates 3.2 per cent of under 11s and 2.5 per cent of 11-17s are exposed to domestic violence. Based on current population statistics that leaves at least 15,948 children at risk over the two-week period of Christmas.

The charity also predicts that more than 400,000 children could be at risk of domestic abuse in 2022.

This escalating domestic abuse crisis threatens to increase the cycle of abuse across generations, says the EIF as children who have experienced domestic violence are more likely to be in abusive relationships as well as misuse alcohol and drugs in adult life.

The government is being called on by the charity to ensure the government’s upcoming domestic abuse strategy commits to funding and evaluating the “most promising support” for families affected by domestic abuse.

“Given the numbers of children affected by domestic abuse, it is vital that we fully understand how best to help them,” said EIF chief executive Jo Casebourne.

“The domestic abuse strategy must focus on improving services for child victims of domestic abuse. 

“There are longstanding gaps in provision for families, including in relation to the availability of prevention services and long-term therapeutic support, support for babies and very young children and culturally specific interventions for minority groups.  

“That’s why we are calling on safeguarding minister Rachel Maclean to ensure that the domestic abuse strategy includes a commitment to fund and evaluate the most promising support, in order to build crucial evidence of what works for families affected by domestic abuse.”