Why We Act
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is not limited to physical violence and can include a range of abusive behaviours. It can also be experienced as repeated patterns of abusive behaviour to maintain power and control in a relationship.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as any incident or pattern of incidents between those aged 16 years and over who; are a partner, are an ex-partner, are a relative or have, or there has been a time when they each have had, a parental relationship in relation to the same child.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 outlines the following behaviours as abuse: physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, psychological, emotional, or other abuse.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises children under the age of 18 years who see, or hear, or experience the effects of the abuse, as a victim of domestic abuse if they are related or have a parental relationship to the adult victim or perpetrator of the abuse.
Impact on Work and the Economy
“Domestic abuse stretches into every aspect of victims’ lives – including their working life. As many as one in five victims may need to take time off work because of abuse.”
— Government report, 2021
Lost productivity & absence
Domestic abuse-related absence can create significant economic losses for both individuals and employers.
Cost to individuals
Vodafone & KPMG research estimates a loss of £5,800 per female victim each year due to impacts on career progression.
Cost to business
UK businesses lose around £316 million in output annually because of work absences linked to domestic abuse.
Key Facts & Impact
Lifetime prevalence
1 in 4 women in England & Wales will experience domestic abuse.
Since age 16, 20.5% (9.9 million) people have ever experienced it.
Annual prevalence
4.8% of adults (6.6% women; 3.0% men)—approximately 2.3 million people—experienced domestic abuse in the last year.
More by a partner/ex-partner (3.2%) than by another family member (1.9%).
Reporting gap
Police receive a domestic abuse–related call every 30 seconds.
Yet under 24% of incidents are reported to them.
Child exposure
1 in 5 UK children has lived with an adult perpetrating domestic abuse.
Gender dynamics
93% of defendants are male; 84% of victims are female.
Women are nevertheless three times more likely than men to be arrested in domestic-abuse incidents.
Total societal cost
Domestic abuse costs the UK an estimated £23 billion per year, weighing heavily on both our health and our economy.
