Warwickshire Domestic Abuse Strategy
2 - Definition of Domestic Abuse and National Data
Domestic abuse is defined as: any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.
Domestic abuse is rarely a one-off incident and should be seen as a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour through which the abuser seeks power over their victim. It occurs across the whole of society, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, class, or lifestyle and income. However, data shows that the majority of domestic abuse is perpetrated by men against women.
Crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, forced marriage and female genital mutilation are also considered acts of domestic abuse (Home Office, 2007, Domestic Violence: A MP’s Guide).
Domestic abuse is under reported. It is estimated that only 40 % of domestic abuse is reported to the police (Crime in England and Wales 2003/2004).
However, current national data shows that domestic abuse:
- accounts for 16% of all violent crime – 33% of violent incidents against women were domestic violence, compared with 6% of incidents against men (Crime in England and Wales 2006/07)
- has more repeat victims than any other crime - on average there will have been 35 assaults before a victim calls the police. 44% of victims of domestic abuse are involved in more than one incident (Crime in England and Wales 2003/2004)
- claims the lives of two women each week and 30 men per year (Criminal Statistics, Home Office)
- will affect 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men in their lifetime (Council of Europe, 2002) with women at greater risk of repeat victimisation and serious injury 89% of those suffering four or more attacks of domestic abuse are women (Home Office, 2007, Domestic Violence: An MP’s Guide)
- affects nearly three quarters of children on the ‘at risk’ register (Department of Health, 2002)
- is influenced by alcohol in 39 % of incidents (Crime in England and Wales 2006/7)
- costs in excess of £23 billion a year through costs of public services, lost economic output due to time off work, and the human and emotional costs to those suffering the abuse (Walby, Sylvia (2004). The Cost of Domestic Violence. Women and Equality Unit: London).
Download a copy of the Warwickshire Domestic Abuse Strategy here. |