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Empowering Women: Doctor A Cosmetics' Commitment to Addressing Domestic Abuse in the UK
Domestic abuse is a hidden crime that society used to turn a blind eye to. Almost 1 in 3 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. 2 women a week are killed by their former or current partner in England. The statistics make for gruesome reading. We see abuse and violence against women in the news every day. The murder of Sarah Everard served as a reminder of the danger that women face every day. We’re taking a look at domestic abuse in the UK and how this hidden crime is more common than you might think.
Domestic abuse statistics in the UK- Women
It’s difficult to paint an accurate picture of domestic abuse in the UK. Most incidents occur within the home, with women rarely reporting instances of domestic abuse to police. Existing statistics don’t account for women who experience multiple incidents of domestic abuse, and coercive controlling behaviour is rarely included.
Data from the Crime Survey of England and Wales found that an estimated 1.6 million women aged 16 to 74 experienced domestic abuse from March 2018 to March 2019. On average, the police service receives over 100 calls every hour related to domestic abuse.
These statistics are shocking enough, but we know that they do not paint the true picture. The same data shows that only 18% of women report domestic abuse to the police. 18% - there is no telling what the real numbers are.
Domestic abuse statistics in the UK- Men
Men suffer from domestic abuse too but not many people associated domestic violence with men. In March 2019, the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimated that 786,000 men aged 16 to 74 years experienced domestic abuse in the last year. One in three victims of domestic abuse is a male. Unfortunately, many men are afraid to talk about the abuse they are suffering as they are mocked and are not seen “manly” enough. Recent statistics show that 61% of the men have never spoken to anyone before about the abuse they are suffering and 64% would not have called if the helpline was not anonymous.
Domestic abuse statistics in the UK- LGBT+
Domestic Violence affects at least 1 in 4 LGBT+ people and up to 80% transgender people. It is estimated that approximately 25% of LGBT people suffer through violent or threatening relationships. Domestic abuse affects everyone and should not be seen as a gender issue. It is genderless as anyone can suffer from it.
Domestic abuse statistics in the UK- Children
Domestic abuse is a widespread issue that affects anyone from any age. One in five adults aged 18 to 74 years have experienced at least one form of child abuse, whether it be emotional abuse, physical abuse, or sexual abuse. In addition, an estimated 1 in 100 adults aged 18 to 74 years experienced physical neglect before the age of 16 years.
Many cases of domestic abuse are not reported or are hidden so we will never truly know how many people are suffering daily from domestic violence.
The link between football and domestic abuse
All month long, the UK media have been talking about how football was “coming home”. What few of them have spoken about is the link between football matches – in particular alcohol taken during football matches – and rises in domestic abuse cases.
Research by Lancaster University has found that there is a 26% increase in domestic abuse instances when the national team wins or draws in a football match. The statistics are even worse when the national team loses this jumps to 38%.
Tackling domestic abuse in the UK
Doctor A Cosmetics is a skincare brand on a mission to change the world. As an eco-friendly skincare brand, our social conscious drives everything we do, from encouraging diversity within the beauty industry to supporting social campaigns through our charity partners.
Our founder, Doctor Anika, also established the Anika Food Charity. It campaigns on widespread social causes related to food poverty, such as domestic violence, mental health, and homelessness. 5% of our annual profits go towards supporting the work of Anika Food Charity and its related campaigns – of which ending domestic violence is at the heart of.
If you’re suffering domestic abuse, there is support out there to help you. In an emergency, call 999, If you’re in a safe space and can talk, there are helplines out there for you to contact. You can call the National Domestic Abuse helpline for free on 0808 2000 247, which is available 24-hours a day. If you can’t speak on the phone, you can use the live-chat function from 3 pm-10 pm on Monday to Friday.
Helplines to contact:
For woman:
The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Phone number: 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night. The staff will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and support.
Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk
For Men:
Men’s Advice Line
Phone number: 0808 8010 327 (Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 8pm, and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am to 5pm) for non-judgemental information and support
ManKind
Phone number: 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm)
Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
For LGBT+
Galop
Phone number: 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support.
Email: help@galop.org.uk
For Children
NSPCC
email help@nspcc.org.uk.
Phone number: 0808 800 5000
Under 18
Phone number: 0800 1111
All phone calls are confidential.
For forced marriages or honour crimes:
Karma Nirvana
Phone number: 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes. You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV.UK Forced Marriage Unit.
Are you abusive?
If you are worried that you are abusive, you can contact the free Respect helpline on 0808 802 4040.
Helplines:
|
Nation |
Helpline |
Contact |
|
England |
0808 2000 247 |
|
|
Northern Ireland |
0808 802 1414 |
|
|
Scotland |
0800 027 1234 |
|
|
Wales |
0808 80 10 800 |
|
|
UK-wide |
The Men’s Advice Line run by Respect is a confidential helpline specifically for male victims. |
0808 801 0327 |
App:
Bright Sky is a mobile app and website for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or who is worried about someone else.
The app can be downloaded for free from the app stores. Only download the app if it is safe for you to do so and if you are sure that your phone is not being monitored.
In Person:
“Ask for ANI”.
A= Action
N= Needed
I= Immediately
If you are suffering from domestic abuse and need help, then you can ask for ‘ANI’ in a participating pharmacy. If a pharmacy has the ‘Ask for ANI’ logo on display, it means they are ready to help. They will offer you a private space, provide a phone and ask if you need support from the police or other domestic abuse support services.
Ask for ANI Logo:
Safe Spaces
Safe Spaces are also available in Boots, Morrisons, Superdrug and Well pharmacies, TSB banks and independent pharmacies across the UK. Once you are inside, specialist domestic abuse support information will be available for you to access. Many Safe Spaces are also prepared to respond to the ‘Ask for ANI’ codeword, to provide victims with a discreet way to access help calling the police on 999 or specialist support services.
Find your nearest Safe Space.
In conclusion, addressing domestic abuse is not only a moral obligation, but it is also crucial for creating a better future for all. Doctor A Cosmetics stands with survivors and will continue to raise awareness and support initiatives aimed at ending domestic abuse in the UK. We believe that self-care, including taking care of your skin, can be an important step in the journey towards healing and empowerment for survivors. By working together, we can create a world where everyone is safe and has the resources they need to thrive.
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