‘I fled an abusive relationship without a phone – having one again made me feel safe’

A lack of steady internet access is a concern among women’s aid groups, they told Metro (Picture: Getty Images/Metro)

When Lucy* fled an abusive relationship, she took everything she could. Her phone was not one of them.

Smartphones, however, are a hard thing not to have these days. A phone might even be needed to scan a QR code to look at a pub’s food menu.

They’re also needed to phone domestic abuse hotlines, access website chats and attend remote meetings with support workers.