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National context

Domestic abuse remains a pervasive and deeply harmful issue across the UK, affecting an estimated 2.3 million adults aged 16 and over in the year ending March 2024 - 1.6 million women and 712,000 men.

Despite a slight decrease in police-recorded domestic abuse-related crimes, with 1.35 million incidents and crimes logged in England and Wales, the true scale of abuse is significantly underreported due to fear, stigma, and barriers to disclosure. Women continue to be disproportionately affected, experiencing higher rates of repeat victimisation, coercive control, and sexual violence.

Abuse often begins or escalates during pregnancy, and young people aged 16–24 are among the most affected age groups. The impact of domestic abuse is not only personal but societal, with an estimated £66 billion annual cost to the economy, including lost productivity and healthcare costs. These figures underscore the urgent need for trauma-informed, survivor-centred responses and multi-agency collaboration to address both the immediate and long-term consequences of domestic abuse.

Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, domestic abuse is defined as any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.
The Act recognises the following types of abuse:

  • Physical or sexual abuse
  • Violent or threatening behaviour
  • Controlling or coercive behaviour
  • Economic abuse
  • Psychological, emotional or other abuse

The legislation places a duty on local authorities to provide support in safe accommodation to those harmed and their children and established the role of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.

National strategy

This strategy aligns with the statutory duties and strategic priorities outlined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the UK Government’s Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan 2022. It reflects the four pillars of the national plan:

  • Prioritising Prevention through education, awareness campaigns, and early intervention
  • Supporting Victims with trauma-informed, accessible services tailored to diverse needs
  • Pursuing Perpetrators via enforcement, behaviour change programmes, and safeguarding protocols
  • Strengthening the System – through multi-agency collaboration, data-driven commissioning, and continuous improvement

National Violence against women and girls (VAWG) agenda

Domestic abuse remains a deeply rooted societal issue, intricately linked to broader cultural norms and systemic inequalities. It’s a public health crisis that affects individuals, families, and communities. Recent high-profile national cases of violence against women and girls have deeply resonated with communities across the UK and beyond, highlighting the urgent need for sustained, compassionate action.

On average, one woman is killed by a man every three days in the UK. This devastating statistic reflects the scale and severity of gender-based violence and reinforces the need for a coordinated, trauma-informed response.

The UK Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy provides a national framework for addressing these harms. It focuses on five key areas:

  • Prioritising prevention
  • Supporting victims and survivors
  • Holding perpetrators to account
  • Strengthening partnerships
  • Improving data and evidence