Statistics
- At least 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.
- Around 1 in 13 men will be victims of domestic abuse.
- We think 1 in 5 children have been exposed to domestic abuse.
However, over the last two years since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, there has been a substantial rise in calls to NSPCC about children and domestic abuse and in reported domestic abuse cases.
We know that there is a high degree of under-reporting from both males and females, this being linked to many different factors including shame, blaming themselves for their partner’s behaviour, believing that it is an inherent part of the relationship. This therefore means that the real figures are likely to be significantly higher.
Data in the UK suggests that on average victims will live with domestic abuse for around 3 years before getting help. Domestic and sexual violence or abuse can be frequent and persistent with the highest repeat victimisation of any crime.
National figures indicate that nearly three quarters of children with a child protection plan live in households where domestic abuse occurs. The impact of violence and abuse can be devastating. Many victims suffer physical harm, which is fatal in extreme cases. Death may result from the violence itself or through suicide because the abuse and subsequent mental illness has made their life difficult to bear. Other victims may lose their home, be unable to hold down a job or a relationship, and become isolated from friends and family. Children may also be at risk, either by witnessing violence or by being victims of abuse themselves.
Almost a quarter of all children will have been exposed to physical violence and / or threatening behaviour from an adult partner or ex-partner to their parent (NSPCC).