Levels of domestic abuse soar as the cost-of-living increases
Women who suffer domestic abuse often experience economic and financial control at the hands of their abuser. As a result, women will frequently have to navigate significant financial hurdles to escape the situation, rebuild their lives and recover from the abuse. The increasing cost of living has compounded this crisis, and victims are beginning to feel it is impossible to escape their abuse.
New research by Women's Aid reveals that 96% of victims say that the cost-of-living crisis is making their abuse worse, and three-quarters of those victims say they are increasingly scared to leave their abuser due to financial fears. The victims who manage to escape feel like there is no net to catch them at their most vulnerable moment.
The most dangerous time for a victim is when they leave their abusive partner; 75% of domestic violence-related murders occur upon separation. For those that do escape, the risk of dying at the hands of their partner is 75% higher for the first two years.
Domestic abuse victims face a long battle to find accommodation and support since most refuges are currently at capacity, with over 64% of referrals being denied due to lack of beds. Thousands of women and children spend months – sometimes years being passed around temporary accommodations, often in horrific conditions. This increases the number of victims returning to their abuser, contributing to the third of victims returning to their abusive partner.
Rachel Martin, 43, volunteers and raises money for domestic abuse charities, such as Women's Aid and Victim Support. She knows from first-hand experience how daunting it can be to leave amidst financial worries, and often victim's only hope is to get help from charities.
"I lived in a relationship for over 11 years centred around his ability to control my every move.
"My finances, my clothes, even what I was allowed to eat was chosen by him. I accepted it as I thought it was out of love.
"When you finally leave, you can see the situation clearly and for what it was, and that was simply emotional abuse.
"He asked me to give up my job as a Nursery manager a couple of years into the relationship when I fell pregnant. He said he wanted to take care of our baby and me. Little did I know it was him making it harder for me to leave him.
"I was completely dependent on him."
Victims face an impossible decision: flee poverty and potential homelessness or stay with a perpetrator. This is a decision made harder when children are involved. 86% of frontline workers say they spend most of their time finding appropriate housing for their clients. Like so many other women, Rachel knew she had to leave but didn't know how.
"The physical abuse became much worse. I couldn't hide it anymore; he was out of control.
"When it began to affect my daughter's mental health, I knew I had to leave.
"I had no money of my own, and I knew he would become violent and even more suspicious of me if I tried to start working and earning again.
"I eventually found the courage to phone The Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline on the landline one day while he was at work. They could not have been more understanding and put me in touch with a local women's shelter.
"If I hadn't had the help of charities, friends, and family to lean on, I would still be in that relationship today. I completely depended on him for all my needs.
"That was over nine years ago now. Doing the fundraising work for charities, I have understood what this cost-of-living crisis is truly doing to people stuck in controlling, abusive relationships. It's destroying their chances of escaping."
In a survey by the charity Refuge, three-quarters of frontline respondents said that the cost increase has led to their clients relying on food banks to survive. Two-thirds reported that survivors are skipping meals or unable to afford to feed their children. Over half cannot re-purchase necessities such as school uniforms for their children after leaving their abuser.
Despite charities and survivors sounding the alarm over the 35% increase in domestic violence since 2019, the statistics show that prosecution rates against perpetrators are down 6%.
A Government spokesperson said: "We as a government are working to ensure victims are fully supported. Our tackling Domestic Abuse Plan invests £230m, including £140m to support victims and survivors."
Women's aid representatives responded, "Our recent research found that providing sustainable funding for specialist domestic abuse services in every community would cost the government just £393 million per year, a fraction of the £66 billion estimated cost to society of domestic abuse.
"The new government now has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to supporting survivors of abuse by making a clear pledge to guarantee this funding."
If you or somebody you know needs support, here are some valuable resources:
The Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline (available 24/7) – 0800 027 1234
Samaritans (available 24/7) – 116 123
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428
The Men’s Advice Line for male domestic abuse survivors – 0808 801 0327
Women's Aid website link, which provides an online chat service - https://www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/