What do statistics show about domestic violence against women in the UK?
What is the reason for the increase in domestic violence against women with the prevalence of coronation in the UK?
What steps has the UK government taken to protect women from all forms of violence?
Statistics show that the number of domestic violence crimes recorded by British police has increased over the past five years. According to the data, the number of domestic violence cases, including rape, death threats and harassment, increased from 884 in 2016 to 1,599 in 2020, representing an 81% increase.
The alarming increase in violence against women in the UK
While some of the increase in domestic violence offences may be due to the rise in the number of victims and improved detection of crime by the police, a senior fellow at Family Law Company says the increase is alarming. “It’s essential education around what honour-based abuse is and how it impacts families is improved across the country. These figures are likely to show the tip of the iceberg: lockdowns have exacerbated the problem for many. As we get back to normal life, I expect to see even more cases involving honour-based abuse. Of course, due to the very nature of these cases, it’s likely many victims will never even think to approach the police, and the issues are often not recognized by schools, social services or the police,” he said.
Murder of women due to domestic violence in the UK
According to statistics, between 12 and 15 homicides in domestic violence occur in the UK each year. The Home Office has been collecting data on domestic violence since April 2019. According to these data, in 2019 and 2020, 2024 domestic violence cases were recorded by the police in England and Wales (excluding Greater Manchester Police). Experts believe that the actual figures may be higher because this type of violence is not always reported.
Protect women with high-tech drones
The issue of women’s rights in the UK is not new. The UK has one of the worst human rights statistics in Europe. Recently, Drone Defence, the company behind the technology, introduced a plan to the UK government to use drones to protect women who walk the streets at night. Many women afraid of being attacked by attackers can call a drone using a mobile app. This gadget arrives in a few minutes, equipped with heating cameras and floodlights, to ward off any possible attackers. The rise of attacks on women prompted a group of former police officers and experts from the civil aviation authority to propose the project to be safe enough to travel in the UK.
British women are victims of all kinds of violence.
British women are becoming more and more victims of all kinds of violence, and legal and preventive measures have not only failed to reduce the growth of harassment in the country but have also grown significantly. For months, women’s civil rights groups have expressed concern about the escalation of violence against girls and women walking the streets of London alone, especially after dark. Following the escalation of attacks on women and girls, a member of the UK Parliament called for the passage of a bill banning men from crossing at night in some neighbourhoods, which provoked widespread reactions.
Boris Johnson’s recklessness in reducing violence against women
Recently, UK PM Boris Johnson angered the Home Secretary by blocking efforts to pass a law criminalizing sexual harassment in public places. This has created severe tensions between Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel, and other senior ministry officials.
More than 180,000 people responded to Patel’s call to investigate the problem of street violence against women and girls, responding to her poll and complaining about the frequent harassment during the day. The feedback has grown significantly, primarily since the news of Sarah Everard’s murder was published. Sarah Everard was abducted, raped, and eventually killed by a British police officer for violating Covid-19 rules. However, Boris Johnson said he did not support any new anti-violence laws, claiming that there were numerous laws in place at the moment.
The need for immediate and severe action on violence against women
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has warned that the violence epidemic could escalate unless immediate and severe action is taken against violence against women. The report called on city council officials, schools, health care, social services, and all judiciary sectors to work together to find or prevent a spread of violence against women in the country; Because the police alone can’t solve this problem.
The Guardian quoted the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimate of 1.6 million women experiencing domestic abuse 12 months to March 2020. The agency said 153,136 rape and other sexual harassment cases were recorded in the 12 months, with 84% of the victims being girls and women.
British women are targeted for sexual harassment.
On the other hand, online cyberspace creates a worrying situation in the UK as men are encouraged to humiliate women and resort to violence behind the anonymity of online categories. According to a survey in the UK, 86% of 18- to 24-year-old women were sexually harassed or witnessed. According to studies, 4 out of 5 women prisoners in Scotland and England have a history of severe head injuries due to domestic violence. In a study of a quarter of women prisoners in Scotland, 89% of respondents reported experiencing recurring injuries from domestic violence. According to the report, more than half of women prisoners (54%) surveyed in these studies were sexually abused in childhood, and 46% were sexually abused in adulthood.
Increase in domestic violence after the outbreak of Covid-19
On the other hand, new research shows that the Covid-19 crisis and the holidays in the UK have led to a sharp increase in domestic violence against women. According to the Guardian, three-quarters of victims of domestic violence say violence has increased during the Covid-19 crisis and holidays, making it harder for them to escape. Statistics released by the British police show that the police are called once every 30 seconds to report domestic violence. The rate of domestic violence during quarantine is rising in European countries and the US; Because the victims of this phenomenon have to spend time with the aggressors in a confined space that is mostly home.
A small percentage of the tens of thousands of reported physical and sexual violence cases against women in England, Scotland and Wales to date have resulted in convictions. The UK government has no will to end violence against women and resists restrictive laws. With this situation, we must see an increase in violence against women in the UK. Statistics also show that in the last two years, following the outbreak of Covid-19, violence against women in the UK has increased dramatically.
