Domestic abuse reports rise sharply to 9.6% of adults in latest survey

According to the Office for National Statistics, 9.6% of individuals aged 16 and older reported experiencing domestic abuse in the year to March 2026, representing about 4.7 million people. This marks a rise from 7.8% - roughly 3.8 million - in the previous year. The surge is largely attributed to partner abuse, which increased to 7.9% from 6.1% over the same period, while family abuse stayed near 2.8%, barely different from the prior 12 months.

Meghan Elkin, who leads crime statistics at the ONS, noted that while methodological variations and the sensitivity of the topic can influence estimates, the data suggest a genuine increase in abuse levels. She emphasized the need for additional data points to better understand the uncertainty and long-term trends. The findings signal a concerning shift in the prevalence of domestic violence across the adult population.