Myths

For further information about Domestic Abuse myths, visit the Hitting Home website developed by the BBC.

Facts

• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic violence over their lifetimes. (Council of Europe, 2002; BMA 1998; Home Office Research Study, 1999)
• Less than 12% of actual domestic violence is reported to the police. (Crime in England and Wales, Home Office, July 2002; Home Office Research Study, 1999)
• Just under half of victims will tell a relative or friend. (Home Office Research Study, 1999)
• An average of 2 women each week were killed by current or former partners in England in Wales in the year 2000/1. (Home Office, 2001)
• It's estimated that police receive a call from a victim of domestic violence every minute. (Betsy Stanko, 2000).
• Domestic violence incidents make up nearly a quarter of all violent crime. (Crime in England and Wales , Home Office, July 2002).

More Statistics

• In a 3 month period 128 of 180 victims of domestic violence were unwilling to pursue the allegation. (Metropolitan Police Research 'Understanding and Responding to Hate Crime' team)
• Out of an estimated 635,000 incidents of domestic violence in 2001/2 in England and Wales - 81% of the victims were women and 19% were men. (Crime in England and Wales , Home Office, July 2002)
• There are no significant differences between ethnic groups. Under-25s are most likely to be affected. (Crime in England and Wales , Home Office, July 2002)
• In a study of the take-up of services by Asian, African Caribbean and Arab women it was found that about half the women who had experienced domestic violence waited 5 years before they sought help. (Rai and Thiara, 1997)
• Academic research has estimated the cost of domestic violence in Hackney in 1996 at £90 per household - equivalent to an estimated £278 million a year for Greater London alone. (Professor Betsy Stanko, 1999)
• A woman can be assaulted up to 35 times before she seeks help.
• Only about one quarter (1/4) of all incidents of domestic violence are reported to the police.
• In a 6 month period, Police in Stockport recorded 2,074 incidents of domestic violence(Jan-Jun 04).
• Every year Women's Aid refuges in England provide help and refuge for over 45,000 women and children seeking to escape domestic violence; a further 100,000 are given help and support.
• There are over 1,200 cat and dog shelters in England , compared to 200 refuges for women and their children.
• In 1975, the Parliamentary Select Committee recommended that there should be one refuge place for every 10,000 people. This figure has never been realised.

For statistics about children and domestic abuse, go to the 'Children and Young People' page.