The Sun Newspaper Campaign to end Domestic Violence Scandal

While watching Sky News this morning I listened to two campaigners making their argument for extra funding to provide extra refuges for victims of domestic violence.  They mentioned the Sun newspaper campaign and as I think this matter is incredibly important I thought the Sun wouldn’t mind if I used some of their found facts to promote what they are doing.

Also, please sign their petition – I have.

Here’s the Sun’s facts about domestic violence:

• On average two women a week are killed by a partner or ex-partner in England and Wales
• In 2012/13 there were 7.1 per cent of women who reported having experienced any type of domestic violence in the last year - equivalent to an estimated 1.2 million female victims of domestic violence.
• Overall, 30 per cent of women had experienced any form of domestic violence since the age of 16 - equivalent to an estimated 4.9 million female victims of domestic violence.
• On average the police receive an emergency call relating to domestic violence every 30 seconds
• Domestic violence costs society nearly £16 billion per year, with a cost for physical healthcare (i.e. not including mental health) to the NHS of 1.7billion per annum.
• According to the Women’s Aid annual survey of around 200 domestic violence services in 2013, approximately 10,000 women and 10,000 children sought support from Refuges in England alone.
• The Crime Survey for England and Wales continues to show steady declines in violent crime over the last 20 years. Between the 1995 and the 2013/14 surveys, the number of violent crime incidents has fallen from 3.8 million in 1995 to 1.3 million in 2013/14. However, rates of domestic violence have remained stable since 2008/9.
• The estimated total cost of domestic violence to society in monetary terms is £16 billion per annum based on the following: 

• The cost to the criminal justice system is £1.2 billion per annum.
• The cost of physical healthcare treatment resulting from domestic violence, (including hospital, GP, ambulance, prescriptions) is £1.7 billion per annum.
• The cost to the social services is £0.28 billion.
• Housing costs are estimated at £0.19 billion.
• The cost of civil legal services due to domestic violence is £0.38 billion.
• The cost of domestic homicide is estimated by the Home Office at over one million pounds: a total of £1,097,330 for each death.
• Of 526 homicides in 2013/14 , 46% of female victims were killed by a partner or ex-partner, compared to 7% male victims. All but one of the female partner/ex-partner homicide victims were killed by a male suspect.

The Sun is asking for:

1. A national guarantee of funding for refuges
2. No more refuge closures
3. Number of refuges to return to pre-2010 levels. In 2010 there were 187 specialist domestic violence refuges. In 2014, there were 155 specialist domestic violence refuges. We need 32 new ones open ASAP

The Crime Prevention Website absolutely supports the Sun’s campaign and we would urge you to sign the petition and encourage others to do so.

Sun Newspaper Campaign site: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/6460484/Sun-campaign-Refuges-for-victims-of-domestic-violence-are-being-closed.html

The Sun’s campaign site ends with the following advice:

If you are a victim of domestic violence call freephone 0808 2000 247 for the 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline (run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge).

Or log onto www.womensaid.org.uk. Women’s Aid also runs a website for children and young people experiencing domestic violence www.thehideout.org.uk.