Between 2009/10 and 2023/24, 1,142 women have been killed by a partner, or an ex-partner in England and Wales, compared with 514 killed by family members, 316 killed by friends or acquaintances, and 273 killed by strangers. In every reporting year in the provided time period, partners or ex-partners were responsible for the highest number of homicides of female victims.

Domestic abuse numbers, prevalence, types and victim characteristics, based upon findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales and police recorded crime.

In 2024/25, there were approximately 815,941 domestic violence incidents recorded by the police in England and Wales, compared with the 851,062 offences reported in the previous year.

Findings from the analyses based on the Homicide Index recorded by the Home Office, including long-term trends, sex of the victim, apparent method of killing and relationship to victim.

Of the *** recorded homicides in England and Wales in 2023/24, *** of the victims were male, and *** victims were female. During this provided time period, the reporting year with the highest number of homicides was 2017/18, when *** were reported, while 2016/17 had the second-highest of homicides at ***. Male homicide victims outnumber female homicide victims in every reporting year. Vast majority of homicides committed by men Although more likely to be the victims of homicide, men are also responsible for far more homicides than women are, with most homicide suspects being male in England and Wales. Between 2010/11 and 2023/24, there have been ***** men indicted for homicide, compared with *** women. Additionally, a high number of female homicides were perpetrated by people, and usually men, that they knew. Between 2009/10 and 2023, ***** women were killed by their partners or ex-partners, with family members responsible for *** homicides in the same time period. Knives used in significant share of cases Sharp instruments such as knives were used in ** percent of homicides in England and Wales in 2023/24, by far the most of any method of that reporting year. Overall, there were *** knife homicides in this reporting year, compared with just ** homicides where a firearm was used. While shootings are relatively rate in the UK, there has been a substantial increase in knife crime in recent years, with offenses almost doubling between 2013/14 and 2019/20, when knife crime offenses reached a peak of ******.

United Kingdom UK: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data was reported at 0.874 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.776 Ratio for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data is updated yearly, averaging 0.825 Ratio from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2016, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.115 Ratio in 2007 and a record low of 0.599 Ratio in 2011. United Kingdom UK: Intentional Homicides: Female: per 100,000 Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides, female are estimates of unlawful female homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; ;

Number of domestic homicide offences per 1,000 population.

Domestic abuse numbers, prevalence, types and attitudes experienced by women and men aged between 16 and 59 years and 60 to 74 years, based upon annual findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales.

An interactive Excel-based data tool for domestic abuse statistics. It allows users to explore data for their police force area in more detail and compare with other areas.

Recorded crime figures for CSP areas. Number of offences for the last two years, percentage change, and rates per 1,000 population for the latest year.

This statistic shows the non-physical effects felt as a result of the partner abuse in England and Wales (UK) in 2012/13, by gender. It can be seen that women in England and Wales suffered non-physical harm from partner abuse more often than men. The most common effect, irrespective of gender, was mental or emotional problems.

United Kingdom UK: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data was reported at 1.541 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.215 Ratio for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data is updated yearly, averaging 1.505 Ratio from Dec 2005 (Median) to 2016, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.768 Ratio in 2005 and a record low of 1.144 Ratio in 2014. United Kingdom UK: Intentional Homicides: Male: per 100,000 Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Health Statistics. Intentional homicides, male are estimates of unlawful male homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.; ; UN Office on Drugs and Crime's International Homicide Statistics database.; ;

Domestic abuse numbers, prevalence and types, by region and police force area, using annual data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, police recorded crime and a number of different organisations.

Number of domestic homicide offences per 1,000 population.

Context

Performance Indicator : DOMV9a - KPI (Key performance indicator) A performance indicator or key performance indicator is a type of performance measurement. KPIs evaluate the success of an organization or of a particular activity in which it engages (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_indicator)

Published by: City of York Council Last updated: 20 March 2015 Topic: Not added Licence: Open Government Licence *This indicator has been discontinued https://data.gov.uk/dataset/5582cf2d-4f83-430e-b304-a2e924a1c88d/domestic-violence-incidents-level-medium-risk

Content

City of York Council gis@york.gov.uk Freedom of Information (FOI) requests City of York Council foi@york.gov.uk https://www.york.gov.uk/info/20219/freedom_of_information/1570/make_a_freedom_of_information_request

Acknowledgements

https://data.gov.uk/dataset/5582cf2d-4f83-430e-b304-a2e924a1c88d/domestic-violence-incidents-level-medium-risk

Photo by Michelle Ding on Unsplash

Inspiration

Maria da Penha Maia Fernandes is a Brazilian biopharmacist and women human rights defender. She advocates for women rights, particularly against domestic violence. Maria da Penha was a victim of domestic violence by her husband. In 1983, her husband, attempted to kill her twice. The first time he shot her in her sleep, but she survived, the second time he tried to electrocute her while she showered. Penha was left paraplegic due to these attacks. The husband was jailed for two years and was released in 2002.

Domestic Violence Occurrence Type - Crime Violence *This indicator has been discontinued