Year Statistic/Provision Description Prevalence/Frequency Responsible Body Legislative Status Impact or Outcome (Inferred)
2024-2025 Estimated domestic abuse victims aged 16+ (Prevalence) 3.8 million (7.8%) Office for National Statistics (ONS) Ongoing monitoring High prevalence indicates that domestic abuse remains a significant national issue, though rates appear stable compared to the previous year.
2024-2025 Female victims of domestic abuse (Prevalence) 2.2 million (9.1%) Office for National Statistics (ONS) Ongoing monitoring Women continue to be disproportionately affected by domestic abuse.
2024-2025 Male victims of domestic abuse (Prevalence) 1.5 million (6.5%) Office for National Statistics (ONS) Ongoing monitoring Significant numbers of men experience abuse, though reporting may be lower due to social stigma.
2024-2025 Police recorded domestic abuse-related crimes 816,493 Territorial Police Forces / Home Office Recorded Crime Data A slight decrease from the previous year (851,062), largely attributed to changes in police recording practices rather than a drop in crime.
2024-2025 Domestic abuse-related prosecutions 54,987 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Criminal Justice Outcome Represents a 7.4% increase in the volume of cases reaching court compared to the previous year.
2024-2025 Domestic abuse-related convictions 41,070 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Criminal Justice Outcome The conviction rate slightly decreased to 74.7%, often due to victim-related issues or evidential difficulties.
2021 Statutory definition of domestic abuse, including economic abuse (Sections 1 and 2) Not in source UK Parliament / UK Government Commenced 1 October 2021 Effective in creating a clear cross-government framework. Improved legal recognition of non-physical harms, though operational understanding among police remains inconsistent.
2022 Recognition of children as victims in their own right (Section 3) 1 in 7 children estimated to have lived with domestic abuse; 41,699 children in private law cases (Apr-Nov 2025) UK Government; Local Authorities; Cafcass Commenced 31 January 2022 Significant step in centring children's voices and ensuring trauma-informed support, though implementation in courts remains adult-focused.
2025 Standalone offence of Non-fatal Strangulation and Suffocation 44,426 police recorded offences; Estimated 20,000 victims annually Police; Crown Prosecution Service; Ministry of Justice Offence commenced 7 June 2022 Improved recognition of high-risk indicators; charges have increased sixfold. Provides a stronger legal mechanism to prosecute high-risk physical control.
2024 Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPN) and Orders (DAPO) (Sections 22-56) Over 1,000 DAPOs issued in pilot phase Police; Family, Civil and Criminal Courts Commenced on pilot basis 27 November 2024 Legislative barriers and the 48-hour hearing window have limited the use of positive requirements for perpetrators.
2024-25 Individuals supported in safe accommodation (Part 4 duty) 76,850 Tier 1 Local Authorities Duty commenced 1 October 2021 Significant expansion in provision since 2021, though capacity constraints leave 28,190 households unsupported.
2024-25 Controlling or coercive behaviour (CCB) offences reaching first hearing 5,374 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Amended scope commenced 5 April 2023 Removal of cohabitation requirement and extension to post-separation abuse has widened scope, though CCB remains under-recorded compared to physical abuse.
2026 Registered Qualified Legal Representatives (QLR) for cross-examination prohibition 769 (540 Family, 229 Civil) HM Courts & Tribunals Service Prohibition commenced 21 July 2022 Initial low availability caused delays, but 80% increase in registrations since 2024 has improved appointment rates.
2024-25 Homeless households owed main duty due to domestic abuse 5,740 (8% of total homeless households) Local Housing Authorities Priority need status commenced 5 July 2021 Clear evidence that victims are accessing housing rights, though local delivery and stock availability remain challenging.
2025 Domestic violence remedy orders made in Family Court (Q3) 9,756 Family Court Civil Provision A 6% year-on-year increase, showing high demand for protective civil orders (mostly non-molestation orders).
2025 Duty on police to notify schools of domestic abuse incidents (Section 49A) Not in source Police Forces; Educational Establishments Commenced 7 November 2025 Operation Encompass successfully strengthens school capacity to support children, though notification detail varies.
2024-2025 Legal aid representation in private family law 80% of cases have at least one unrepresented party Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Statutory Barrier Strict means-testing creates 'legal aid deserts', leaving survivors at a disadvantage against well-resourced abusers.
2025 Cross-government VAWG Strategy (Freedom from Violence and Abuse) £1 billion investment Home Office / Cabinet Office Published December 2025 Aims to halve VAWG in a decade through a 'whole-of-government' approach, though charities criticise the exclusion of migrant support.
2024-2025 No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) status for migrant survivors Estimated 32,000 women in need of support Home Office Existing Policy Acts as a 'draconian' barrier, forcing survivors to choose between abuse or destitution as they cannot access refuges.
2020 Adults in the UK experiencing economic abuse from an intimate partner (Prevalence) 1 in 6 Refuge Pre-enactment of Domestic Abuse Act 2021 High prevalence indicates significant need for the specific statutory recognition provided later by the 2021 Act.
2020 Victim-survivors of domestic abuse who experienced at least one form of economic abuse 95% Surviving Economic Abuse Pre-enactment of Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Demonstrates that economic abuse is almost universal among those seeking support for domestic violence.
2021 Successful prosecutions of controlling or coercive behaviour including economic abuse behaviours 60% Crown Prosecution Service / Judiciary Active Shows that economic abuse is a primary component of many coercive control cases, though often not named explicitly in reports.
2021 Victim-survivors of economic abuse experiencing post-separation abuse during the pandemic 90% Surviving Economic Abuse Active Highlights the extreme vulnerability of survivors post-separation and the ability of abusers to use lockdowns as a tool for control.
2021 Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act 2021 (Northern Ireland) defining economic behaviour Not in source Northern Ireland Assembly Enacted Aligned Northern Ireland's legal definitions with England and Wales to provide consistent protections across the UK.
2015 Statutory recognition of financial abuse in Wales Not in source Welsh Government Enacted (VAWDASV Act 2015) Established early regional definitions of financial theft and misuse to improve service responses in Wales.