Costs of violence against women

Each rape costs over £76,000, and the cost of sexual violence to society was £8.5 billion in 2003-04 alone. Much of this cost is made up of lost output and costs to the health service resulting from long term health issues faced by victims. [Sexual Violence and Abuse Action Plan, Home Office, 2007]

 

The total annual cost of violence against women comes to £40.1bn per year. This is more than the government spends each year on defence. The single largest cost is to the health service, followed by the criminal justice system. [HM Treasury (2007) Meeting the aspirations of the British people: 2007 Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review October 2007]

 

Each year one in ten victims of partner abuse takes time off work as a result of the abuse [Povey, E., Coleman, K., Kaiza, P., Hoare, C., Jansson, K., (2008) Home Office Statistical Bulletin: Crime in England and Wales 2006/07. Supplementary Volume 2 to Crime in England and Wales 2006/07].

 

UK government research shows that the price to the UK economy in lost output is at least £3bn a year. This is the cost of time off work due to injuries. It is estimated that around half of the costs of such sickness absences is borne by the employer and half by the individual in lost wages. Research shows that employers often know what is happening in their employees' lives but not what to do with that information.

 

A study by the Nova Scotia Justice Department discovered that when women were murdered by their partners or ex-partners, the workplace was the most common location where they had talked about their abuse. [Health Canada, 1998]