The official increase in the extent of domestic abuse in the UK (https://www.ons.gov.uk/news/news/improving ONS, 16 May 2025) has not come as a surprise to Swindon’s domestic abuse charity, Society Without Abuse (SWA).
Today, the Office for National Statistics has officially increased the rate of incidents of domestic abuse in the UK to every 1 in 4 people – 26.1%. This increase, formerly 1 in 5, also coincides with 9.5% of women (2.3 million) and 6.5% of men (1.5 million) having experienced domestic abuse in the last year alone.
Kate Rowland, CEO of SWA, explained: “This increase has not come as a surprise to us. Domestic abuse continues to happen at an alarming rate across Swindon, Wiltshire and the whole of the UK. In fact, the reality is that these new, increased figures are also likely to be an underestimation as many incidents of domestic abuse go under the radar, as victims either don’t report the crime or don’t realise that what they’re experiencing is abuse.
“We welcome the improvements made by the Office for National Statistics to more accurately capture the true extent and complexity of domestic abuse. By broadening the scope of behaviours included, from health-related and economic abuse to coercive control and forced marriage, this new data provides a more honest reflection what millions of our loved ones and neighbours are experiencing behind closed doors.
“However, we will continue to see these figures grow and grow unless we collectively come together as a society to tackle the root cause of abuse. To change the future, we need to look at education, early intervention and prevention, in addition to providing support to victims. Through our work at SWA; our HOPE Programme, Open2Change and our Ambassadors, we are working to change the future, today.”
For more information on SWA, visit www.societywithoutabuse.org.uk
If you need advice for yourself or a friend relating to Domestic Abuse, call Swindon’s domestic abuse helpline on 01793 610610
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