Volunteering

Facts & figures about domestic violence

Volunteers often like to have some simple facts and figures about domestic violence.

Domestic violence is overwhelmingly a crime against women, and it affects women from every class, ethnic origin and religion.

• Of 635.000 cases of domestic violence 81% of the victims were women. (British Crime Survey 2002)
• 1 in 4 European women experience domestic violence over their lifetimes and between 6-10% of women suffer during a given year (Council of Europe, 2002)
• From September 2001-August 2002,Women's Aid National Helpline received 56,566 calls. (Women's Aid, 2002)
• Domestic violence accounts for almost a quarter (23%) of violent crime. (Home Office 2000)
• No other type of crime has such a high rate of repeat victimisation. 57% of victims of domestic violence are involved in more than one incident. (Home Office 2002)
• 40% of all homeless women stated that domestic violence was a contributor to their homelessness. It was the single most quoted reason for becoming homeless. (Shelter, 2002)
• The link between child physical abuse and domestic violence is high, estimates ranging from 30% to 66% (Humphreys & Thiara, 2002)

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