New figures released by the Office for National Statistics this week have painted a disturbing picture of domestic abuse in the UK – a reality that Society Without Abuse (SWA), Swindon’s leading domestic abuse charity, has long been warning about.
The ONS now reports that 1 in 4 people in the UK – equating to 26.1% – have experienced domestic abuse. Previously recorded as 1 in 5, this jump is significant, with 2.3 million women (9.5%) and 1.5 million men (6.5%) reporting incidents of abuse in the past year alone.
For SWA, the news brings little shock.
“This increase has not come as a surprise to us,” said Kate Rowland, Chief Executive of SWA. “Domestic abuse continues at an alarming rate not just in Swindon, but right across Wiltshire and the rest of the UK. And the truth is, these numbers are still likely to be an underestimate.”
According to Ms Rowland, many incidents go unreported or are simply not recognised as abuse by the victims themselves. The new ONS data, she explains, now takes into account a broader range of abusive behaviours – including health-related and economic abuse, coercive control, and forced marriage – offering a more accurate view of the scale of the crisis.
“We welcome these improvements,” she said. “By expanding the scope, this data now gives a more honest reflection of what so many are enduring behind closed doors.”
But while the statistics have changed, the daily reality for victims remains much the same. The charity warns that unless society begins addressing the root causes of abuse, numbers will continue to climb.
SWA continues to lead the way locally with early intervention and educational initiatives. These include their HOPE Programme, Open2Change, and Ambassadors scheme, each aimed at not only supporting victims but also working with those who use harmful behaviours and communities to prevent abuse from taking root in the first place.
“To change the future, we need to act now,” Kate added. “It’s not enough to simply respond to abuse – we must prevent it.”
For anyone seeking support, more information can be found at www.societywithoutabuse.org.uk
