2,300,000 people above the age of 16 in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse this past year, new statistics have revealed.
The Office for National Statistics revealed 1,600,000 women and 712,000 men were victims of the abuse, as of March 2024.
Police recorded 851,062 domestic abuse crimes and 499,366 ‘incidents’ – with domestic abuse-related crimes representing 15.8% of all offences recorded by the police in the last year.
Of these recorded crimes, 72.5% of the victims were female in the last year – a staggering percentage.
It’s not all bad news, though – there was a 6.6% decrease in domestic-abuse related crimes compared with 2023.
Last year, over one million crimes against women and girls – including domestic abuse, rape, stalking and revenge porn – were recorded in England and Wales, accounting for 20% of all crimes.
And around the world, every 11 minutes a woman or girl is killed in her own home.
Learn more about domestic abuse in the UK
- One in 4 women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives
- ONS research revealed that last year the police recorded a domestic abuse offence approximately every 40 seconds
- Yet Crime Survey for England & Wales data for the year ending March 2023 found only 18.9% of women who experienced partner abuse in the last 12 months reported the abuse to the police
- According to Refuge, 84% of victims in domestic abuse cases are female, with 93% of defendants being male
- Safe Lives reports that disabled women are twice as likely to experience domestic abuse as non-disabled women, and typically experience domestic abuse for a longer period of time before accessing support
- Refuge has also found that, on average, it takes seven attempts before a woman is able to leave for good.
The shocking statistics come days after a report from UN Women found the most dangerous place for a woman to be is in her own home.
85,000 women and girls were killed by men in 2023 – 60% of these murders were committed by someone close to the victim.
What to do if a loved one is at risk from domestic abuse
If you feel that it’s safe, approaching them gently and considerately may be enough to encourage someone to speak out. Otherwise, reminding them of charities like Women’s Aid and Refuge might help them seek advice.
Ultimately, there are a multitude of ways you can help.
- Listen: Try active listening, where you really tune into what the other person is saying without bombarding them with questions. They may not feel comfortable talking about the abuse directly yet.
- Don’t judge: It’s easy to fall into the trap of being critical, either towards the abuser or the victim for apparently ‘choosing’ to stay in the relationship. Avoid being negative about their partner – understand that your friend or relative may still love them, whatever your own point of view.
- Believe: Avoid phrases like, ‘But they’ve always been so nice to me’ or ‘I can’t imagine them doing that’. Take in what your loved one is telling you with an open mind and reassure them that you are there for them.
- Support: Acknowledging domestic abuse is a process. Offering advice on what constitutes abuse or sharing details for helplines, as long as it is safe to do so, gives your friend or relative the time and space they need to come to terms with what’s happening and decide what – if any – action they want to take.
- Plan: If your loved one feels ready to leave a domestically abusive situation, you can help. Research non-local taxi numbers and transport timetables, or provide items needed in an emergency bag. You might also consider creating a safe word between you and your loved one that signals that they need help, and work out how you are going to call for support.
Remember: Support is out there, however you are involved, and you are not alone.
Read more here
The numbers are just the ‘tip of the iceberg’, UN Women’s deputy executive director, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda said.
‘What the data is telling us is that it is the private and domestic sphere’s of women’s lives, where they should be safest, that so many of them are being exposed to deadly violence,’ she said.
Of the 249 female domestic homicide victims between March 2020 and March 2022, the suspect was male in a staggering 241 cases.
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