The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that 4.7 million people aged 16 and older in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2026, underscoring the scale captured by its survey.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales put prevalence at 9.6% among people in that age group.
The Guardian reported that Alice Russell-Harris, public affairs lead at Refuge, said the results likely represent only part of the problem. She also argued that the government was “not on track” to meet its pledge to halve violence against women and girls by 2034.
