Veilig Thuis chat usage doubles following 24/7 expansion

The Dutch advisory and reporting center for domestic violence and child abuse, Veilig Thuis, has seen a significant increase in usage following the implementation of a 24/7 chat service. In August, the organization conducted nearly 6,500 chat conversations, a substantial increase compared to the previous month when the service was only available during office hours.

Data indicates that more chat interactions now occur outside of standard working hours than during them. Peaks in activity have been observed when people return from work and late at night, around 11:00 PM. The chat function provides a way for individuals to seek advice or report concerns, such as hearing disturbances from neighbors, potentially anonymously and without making noise.

The expansion of the service was made possible through a proposal by MP Ingrid Coenradie, which secured 2.5 million euros in annual structural funding with unanimous support from the Tweede Kamer. While the chat is intended for advice rather than formal investigations, the initiative aims to assist in the faster detection of domestic violence and child abuse.