Domestic violence in the UK

Domestic violence has been a problem for many years across the world. Inequality between men and women has been in our society for a long time and will continue. In the 18th century, wife abuse was considered a normal part of marriage, something women had to get used to, and at that time most legal systems accepted spousal beating within marriage and the husband's exercise of authority over his wife. This law meant that a husband could beat his wife without any consequences. Towards the end of the twentieth century in the seventies, domestic violence had finally been defined as a crime and the person who would use such power had to be justified over it.

173 people were murdered by family members in the UK in 2018. 75% percent of those murders were committed by a partner, ex-partner or another member of the family, and most perpetrators were men. The BBC, which is the British public broadcaster, has compiled a summary of murders related to domestic violence, according to which the percentage increased by 32% since 2017, when around 140 people were murdered due to domestic violence. In 2014, around 160 were murdered, in 2015 around 145 and in 2016 around 130.

According to Mankind, a British site, these facts are revealed. One in three victims of domestic violence is a man, who equates to 757,000 men and 1,651 women. One in six to seven men experience domestic violence. 4,4% of victims who brought support to Safe Lives are men. The pandemic resulted in calls to the helpline and visits to the Domestic Abuse Services website increasing by 75%. 49% of male victims do not report that they are victims of domestic violence, compared to 19% of female victims. In the previous five years from 2015 to 2020, and average of 12 men had been killed by a partner or ex-partner.

In the UK you can call 999 or 101 for help.