Domestic abuse

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between people who are, or have been, intimate partners or family-members, regardless of gender.

It includes forced marriage and so-called 'honour violence'.

All forms of abuse come from the abuser's desire for power or control. Domestic abuse is never the fault of the survivor.

Abuse can be real or threatened. It can happen occasionally, or regularly. It's not just about physical violence - but can include psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse.

Domestic abuse: the facts

Around one in four women, and one in six men experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives.

One in four violent crimes involves people in family or personal relationships.

On average a woman surviving domestic abuse will be assaulted 35 times before reporting it to the police.

Domestic abuse survivors typically contact between seven and 12 agencies before receiving the right service; increasing to between 12 and 15 for survivors from a black and minority ethnic background.

Domestic abuse is rarely a one-off incident - it tends to be a regular pattern that builds up over time.


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