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Domestic Domestic Violence Mini-site

Definition and statistics

Contents

How is domestic violence defined?

Domestic violence is defined by the Home Office as "any violence between current and former partners in an intimate relationship, wherever the violence occurs.  The violence may include physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse."  Domestic violence occurs across society regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, wealth and geography.  

Some Government agencies and parts of the voluntary sector use slightly different definitions to fit their particular needs.  For example, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) definition includes other family members as well as partners; and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) definition includes any criminal offence arising out of physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or financial abuse between current or former partners or family members.

We are actively considering the definition used by the Home Office to ensure that it encompasses all relevant offences.

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How does the Government measure domestic violence?

Recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office do not identify Domestic violence incidents as a separate category. This is because violent incidents can be classified as a range of different offences. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary collects figures from police forces on the number of recorded incidents of domestic violence.  However, because of under reporting, we know that police statistics do not give us a full picture on the levels of domestic violence.

The British Crime Survey (BCS) can provide trend information on the number of incidents of domestic violence against women since 1981. The BCS estimates that there were 635,000 incidents of domestic violence in 2001/2 (514,000 against women and 122,00 against men).

However, the context of the face-to-face BCS interview means the estimates are certain to be underestimates of the true extent due to the fact that some respondents may be unwilling to reveal experience of domestic violence to interviewers. Results from the 1996 BCS self-completion module on domestic violence were published in Home Office Research Study No.191. This more confidential approach to measurement revealed that the proportion of women that were victims in the last year of domestic assault was over three times higher than in the main BCS.  This 'inter-personal violence' module of the BCS was repeated in 2001and the results of that module will be published in the new year.

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Are there any specific domestic violence targets set for key agencies such as the Police and CPS?

 We are looking to develop this year a set of performance indicators in this area which cut across Departmental boundaries to help us assess the effectiveness of our strategy as a whole. The consultation paper seeks views on this.  This will include Performance Indicators for some key agencies such as the police.  This Performance Indicator will be the Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI)  % of reported domestic violence incidents where there was a power of arrest where an arrest was made.

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Why is domestic violence not part of the NHS plan?

The NHS Plan aims to transform the health and social care system so that it produces faster, fairer services that deliver better health and tackle health inequalities.

Planning which used to be done annually and constrained by time pressures and the requirement for multiple plans is for the first time being done over a 3 year period with local health services receiving 3 year budgets. The priorities and key targets identified for delivery over the next 3 years are based on the Department of Health’s Public Service Agreement. The high level health and social care priorities are :

  • Improving access to all services through better emergency care and reduced waiting times, more booking for appointments and admission

  • Focusing on improving services and outcomes in cancer, coronary heart disease, mental health, older people and improving life chances for children

  • Reducing health inequalities

  • Contributing to the cross government drive to reduce drug misuse

  • Improving the overall patient experience.

There are naturally a very large number of important services not covered specifically by these high level targets:

  • Local communities will have local priorities related to their local populations and local circumstances;

  • Local government has priorities in other important areas of public services;

Nationally the NHS and social services will be supporting other areas of public services, for example through engagement in Crime and Disorder Reduction partnerships.

That said the NHS will not be standing still for the next 3 years:

  • implementation of the Women’s Mental Health Strategy to be published this summer will ensure that the impact of violence and abuse is firmly established as a core mental health issue

  • the forthcoming National Service Framework for Children due to be implemented across the NHS from 2004 will set clear national standards for maternity and children’s services. Pregnancy is a known period of heightened risk for domestic violence, the NSF will be informed by outcomes from the current pilot study of routine antenatal questioning by midwives for domestic violence

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What is the trend in domestic violence, up or down?

The British Crime Survey provides some trend information on the number of incidents of domestic violence for England and Wales.

Number of BCS incidents of domestic violence, 1997 to 2001/02 BCS interviews England and Wales (thousands)

 

1997

1999

2000

2001/02 BCS interviews

Domestic Violence

826

787

514

635

Source: Table 6.06 of 'Crime in England and Wales 2001/02.’

However, the context of the face-to-face BCS interview means the estimates are certain to be underestimates of the true extent because some respondents may be unwilling to reveal experience of domestic violence to interviewers. Results from the 1996 BCS self-completion module on domestic violence were published in Home Office Research Study No.191. This more confidential approach to measurement revealed that the proportion of women that were victims in the last year of domestic assault was over three times higher than in the main BCS.  The 'Inter Personal Violence' module of the BSC was repeated in 2001 and the results of that module will be published in the new year.

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How do the figures break down in terms of the relationship between the victim and the offender?

Home Office Research Study 191 looked at violence by partners or ex-partners. This found that 43% of incidents in the last year involved a spouse or ex-spouse and 45% a partner to whom they were not married. A further 10% of domestic violent incidents involved an ex-partner (page 44).

Overall, 60% of victims were living with their assailant at the time of the last assault.

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How do the figures break down in terms of the ethnicity of the victim and the offender?

Home Office Research Study 191 found that, among women, risks of domestic violence do not differ significantly by ethnic origin: about 4% of women of all ethnic groups said that they had been a victim of domestic violence in 1995 (page 29).

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How many domestic homicides take place each year?

In 2001/2, 148 homicide victims were killed by their partner or ex-partner (116 women and 32 men)

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How many women kill their partners?

Over the last 5 years for which figures are available 111 women were indicted for killing their partner/ex partner.  In some of these cases, there may have been a history of abuse by that partner.

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Last update: 14/07/02