Domestic abuse is a huge issue that has an equally massive effect on society. 

Domestic abuse:

• Will affect 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men in their lifetime

• Leads to, on average, two women being murdered each week and 30 men per year

• Accounts for 16% of all violent crime (Source: Crime in England and Wales 04/05 report), however it is still the violent crime least likely to be reported to the police

• Has more repeat victims than any other crime (on average there will have been 35 assaults before a victim calls the police)

• Is the single most quoted reason for becoming homeless (Shelter, 2002)

• In 2010 the Forced Marriage Unit responded to 1735 reports of possible Forced Marriages.

In addition, approximately 400 people commit suicide each year who have attended hospital for domestic abuse injuries in the previous six months, 200 of these attend hospital on the day they go on to commit suicide.

The cost of domestic abuse

It has been estimated that domestic abuse costs the public £23 billion per annum.  This includes the cost to the criminal justice system, to the health service, to social care and to housing.  It is widely accepted however that this figure is an under-estimate as there are so many costs that can not be measured.

The Home Office estimates that each domestic abuse murder costs the country just over £1 million and totals £112 million per annum.