Data surrounding domestic violence is hard to quantify, with it being a crime commonly committed in the home it is largely hidden. It is estimated that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will be a victim of domestic abuse in their lifetime. In the UK, we have seen increases across all measurable data relating to domestic violence, particularly in the demand for support and access to helplines. In the year ending March 2022, there was a 7.7% increase in domestic violence related crimes across England and Wales, estimating 2.4 million experienced domestic abuse in the last year (The Crime Survey for England and Wales 2022). The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns were a key reason for this increase and the Crimestoppers/University of Suffolk 2023 report notes that women and girls were particularly affected by not only domestic abuse but also domestic homicide as well, all within the confines of their home typically by partners, spouses or other family members. 

Unfortunately, the response to domestic violence and support for victims varies significantly across the UK, being deemed a 'patchwork of provision' by the Domestic Abuse Commissoner, with "less than half of victims and survivors being able to access the community-based support that they wanted, and 35% found that accessing help was easy or straightforward", demonstrating the challenges that currently face domestic abuse support. The Government have responded, recommending greater funding, cooperation and scrutiny for domestic abuse support services taking Domestic Abuse Commissoner's report into account and expanding on the new Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. Hopefully, we shall see improvements to support services and reducing the 'postcode lottery' of domestic abuse response.

In March of 2022, the Home Secretary launched the new Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan informed by victims and survivors and also from 20 February 2023,  there are proposals to change the law to make controlling or coercive behaviour on par with physical violence, meaning that offenders sentenced to a year or more imprisonment will automatically be actively managed by the police, prison and probation service, resulting in their recording on the violent and sex offender register. 

This timely event will bring together charities, support groups, local and central government, academia as well as the wider public sector as we aim to put a stop to domestic violence and ensure victims have the support they need.