Domestic Violence
CPS management data, shows that
successful prosecutions for domestic violence (DV) (from charge to
conviction) have significantly increased from 65% in 2006-07 to 72%
in 2009-10, against an increasing volume of prosecutions, from
57,361 to 74,113. In 2010-11 the conviction rate for domestic
violence was held at 72%, against a further increase in volume to
82,187 - an 11% increase on last year alone. CPS prosecutions are
also more efficient - guilty pleas have risen by seven per cent,
from 58% to 65% over the same time period. [Violence against Women
crime report: 2009-2010, CPS]
An analysis of ten separate
domestic violence prevalence studies by the Council of Europe
showed consistent findings: 1 in 4 women experience domestic
violence during their lifetime and between 6 - 10% of women
experience domestic violence in any given year. [Council of Europe
(2002) Recommendation 2002/5 of the Committee of Ministers to
Member States on the Protection of Women Against Violence adopted
on 30 April 2002 (Council of Europe: Strasbourg, France].
Approximately 42% of domestic
violence victims have been victimised more than once. The British
Crime Survey indicates that victims experience an average of 20
incidents of domestic violence in a year, which can often increase
in severity each time. [Walby, S. and Allen, J. (2004) Domestic
violence, sexual assault and stalking: Findings from the British
Crime Survey. Home Office Development and Statistics
Directorate]
Domestic violence has a higher rate
of repeat victimisation than any other crime. [Home Office, July
2002]
Every minute in the UK, the police
receive a call from the public for assistance for domestic
violence. This leads to police receiving an estimated 1,300 calls
each day or over 570,000 each year. [Stanko B 'The Day to Count',
2000]
Approximately 77% of victims of
domestic violence are women. [HM Government (2008) Saving Lives.
Reducing Harm. Protecting the Public. An Action Plan for Tackling
Violence 2008-2011]
In the case of domestic violence,
nearly one in four victims is victimised three or more times
[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]
Despite chronic under-reporting
(and under-recording), approximately 16% of all reported violent
incidents to the police are characterised as domestic violence
related [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]
A thematic inspection by HMIC and
HMCPSI in 2004 found across six police forces an under-recording of
domestic violence crimes (not incidents)of 50%. [HMCPSI
and HMIC (2004) Violence at Home, London]
Domestic violence accounts for 16%
of homelessness acceptances. [Women and Equality Unit (2003)
Increasing Safe Accommodation Choices]
500 women who have experienced
domestic violence in the last six months commit suicide every year.
Of those, just under 200 attended hospital for domestic violence on
the day that they committed suicide. [Walby, S. (2004) The Cost of
Domestic Violence. Women and Equality Unit]
A study of 200 women's experiences
of domestic violence found that 60% of the women had left because
they feared that they or their children would be killed by the
perpetrator. [C. Humphreys and R. Thiara (2002) Routes to
Safety: Protection issues facing abused women and children and the
role of outreach service (Women's Aid Federation England:
Bristol)]
