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Domestic Violence Facts - provided by ADVA

On average in Great Britain, 1 woman is murdered every 3 days by a violent partner or ex-partner. The British Crime Survey, 1996 found that 43% of all female homicides were carried out by the woman's partner or ex-partner. In the same year only 7% of all male homicides were carried out by their female partner or ex-partner.

Recent research suggest that domestic violence cost the public purse £278million per year in Greater London. In Hackney alone, the estimated cost to the local health authority was £580.000 excluding hospitalisation costs and the cost of any medicine.

On average a woman will be assaulted by her partner or ex-partner 35 times before reporting it to the police. So where does she go before that?

Women experiencing domestic violence are most likely to approach a health professional for help, in particular, their GP.

1 in 9 women are currently experiencing domestic violence of such severity that medical assistance is needed. 1 in 3 women experience domestic violence in their lifetimes.

Unlike women injured by other means, women experiencing domestic violence are 13 times more likely to be injured in the breast, chest or abdomen.

Domestic Violence increases in frequency and severity over time. Pregnancy is a well known time for violence to being or increase in severity. Genital or abdominal injuries are particularly common at this time.

90% of children in violent homes are in the same or next room when the violence occurs. One third of children in violent homes are injured whilst trying to protect their mothers.  (Extract from an article in Community Practitioner. Vol 71/13 Dec/Jan 1998/9).