Nearly million more domestic abuse victims puts government’s aim to halve violence against women and girls at risk

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The number of domestic abuse victims rose from 3.8 million to 4.7 million people over the last financial year, a survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found.

The statistics body warned that the “significant increase” in the proportion of adults in England and Wales experiencing domestic abuse indicates “real change” in its prevalence.

The jump has been driven by a rise in partner abuse, experienced by 7.9 per cent of people aged 16 and over in the latest figures, compared with 6.1 per cent in the previous year.

Victim Support chief executive Katie Kempen said: “The rise in partner abuse in the last year is a huge concern and should be a stark wake-up call.

“These figures show the government’s laudable aim of halving VAWG within a decade is at risk, and may not be realised without bolder action and sustained investment across all parts of the criminal justice system.

“Domestic abuse must be treated as the urgent national priority that it is.”

ONS head of crime statistics Meghan Elkin said: “While minor survey changes and the usual uncertainty around gathering data on this sensitive topic are likely to have affected these estimates, our assessment is that the rise in domestic abuse includes real change.

“More data points are needed to further understand the uncertainty and what this tells us about trends in domestic abuse.”

Today it emerged that of the more than 4,000 women arrested for three offence types commonly associated with coercive control (carrying or handling drugs, weapons and stolen goods), a fifth had been flagged as at risk of domestic abuse. 

The investigative news site openDemocracy raised concerns over how male violence draws women into the criminal justice system where they are treated as perpetrators, not as victims. 

Data from 11 police forces obtained Freedom of Information laws showed half of women arrested for coercive control were themselves identified as potential victims of domestic abuse.

Nearly three-quarters of women in prison are survivors of abuse.

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