Domestic violence involves a variable combination of physical, sexual and psychological violence and economic abuse that forms a pattern of coercive, controlling behaviour. It takes place between adults who are current or former partners and immediate family members.

Domestic violence can include:

• Threats of physical violence even though no actual physical force occurs;
• Physical violence (such as shoving, hitting, kicking, head-butting, burning, choking etc.);
• Being forced to have sex;
• Mental/emotional/psychological cruelty such as name calling, isolation from family and friends, deprivation of family income, being prevented from leaving the home, damage to pets or other personal items;
• Using and abusing children in various ways to frighten or force compliance  
• Forced marriage,
• Female genital mutilation and so-called honour-based violence
• Elder abuse when committed within the family or by an intimate partner.                      

Research and government policy recognise that domestic violence is gendered; that is, most perpetrators are male and most victims are female.  As well, the gender of both victim and perpetrator influences behaviour and the severity of risk and harm caused. 

Domestic violence has a devastating effect on victims, their families and the wider community, and occurs irrespective of ethnicity, class, sexuality, age, disability, religion or belief. Children and young people can be adversely affected by domestic violence. Children witnessing domestic violence are being emotionally abused and many are also directly abused by the same perpetrator.

The total cost to society is an estimated £23 billion a year in England and Wales.                      

The Government definition of domestic violence:

Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality." This includes issues of concern to black and minority ethnic (BME) communities such as so called 'honour based violence', female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.

Source: Home Office Domestic Violence Mini-Site

National action  

In 2006-07 the Home Office produced its third National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan - Annual Progress Report.

Strategies for addressing domestic violence have also been produced in Wales (All Wales National Strategy on Domestic Violence), Norther Ireland (Tackling Violence at Home). In Scotland the National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland (2000) has been replaced by an integrated approach to violence against women.   

According to the CEDAW Thematic Shadow Report on Violence Against Women in the UK (EVAW 2008):

Despite significant developments in policy and guidance by major statutory agencies at national level there is inconsistent implementation at the local level. With the exception of the CPS, this is not monitored and followed up consistently at national level.

There is still a lack of co-ordination and oversight at a national level, limited attention to prevention work, an outstanding gap in strategic approaches and uneven and limited provision across the country, particularly in rural areas and for key groups of women, including refugees and asylum seekers. Children who live with domestic violence also remain poorly served.  

For more information on forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM) and further resources...