Statistics

• Domestic violence accounts for approximately one-third of all recorded violent crime in Northern Ireland.
  
  
• It is estimated that one in five women and one in nine men will experience domestic violence in the course of their lifetime.
  
  
• The Police Service attend an average of 60 domestic-related incidents per day, but recognise that there is still a large amount of under-reporting of this type of crime
  
  
• On average, there are five people killed in Northern Ireland each year as a result of domestic violence.
  
  
• On average, every day 12 women and 4 men are victims of domestic violence assaults in Northern Ireland.
  
  
• Domestic violence often starts and/or escalates during pregnancy.
  
  
• It is estimated that at least 11,000 children in Northern Ireland are living with domestic violence.
  
  
• Victims are at greatest risk of homicide at the point of separation or after leaving a violent partner.
  
  
• There is no typical perpetrator of domestic violence. Perpetrators come from a wide range of racial, religious or social groups.
  
  
• Domestic violence is a major cause of homelessness for women and children.
  
  
• Domestic violence is almost always a repeat victimisation crime, most abused women having experienced more than one attack by the same perpetrator.
  
  
• Domestic violence is largely hidden. It occurs in private and is likely to be concealed or denied by those subjected to the abuse as well as by those who perpetrate the abuse – and so most incidents are unreported largely because of real or perceived fear of the consequences.