How can the UK strengthen its response to domestic abuse and ensure every survivor receives the protection and support they need?

Domestic abuse remains one of the most pressing challenges facing society. The Office for National Statistics reports that an estimated 2.1 million people experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023, with women disproportionately affected. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 marked a significant step forward, creating a statutory definition of domestic abuse and strengthening protections. Strategies, such as the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan (2022) and the government’s forthcoming Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, have committed to improving services, prevention, and perpetrator accountability. Despite this progress, demand for support continues to rise and services face unprecedented pressures.

Frontline agencies and professionals continue to grapple with complex challenges: identifying coercive control and tech-facilitated abuse; supporting diverse and marginalised communities; addressing the link between domestic abuse, mental health, and suicide; and delivering effective perpetrator programmes. Multi-agency collaboration remains vital; however, information sharing, capacity, and consistent approaches across health, policing, social care, and housing present ongoing challenges.

The Institute of Government & Public Policy (IGPP) is proud to host the Domestic Abuse Conference 2026, bringing together experts from advocacy services, social services, the police, NGOs, academia, and the wider public sector.

Join the Institute of Government & Public Policy for the online Tackling Domestic Abuse 2026 in November, and explore the latest policy developments, share innovative practice, and provide practical solutions to the sector’s most urgent challenges.