There was a time when domestic abuse was regarded as something of a nasty, little secret – something which happened inside only certain homes and wasn’t talked about in public.

However, there is now not only plenty of evidence to demonstrate that it is a widespread problem but a firm resolve to try and eradicate it.

Anyone in any doubt need only read a brace of official publications within the last week.

The latest figures from the most recent national Crime Survey issued by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that roughly 3.8 million people in England and Wales – 2.2 million women and 1.5 million men – experienced domestic abuse during the course of the previous year (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwalesoverview/november2025).

On the same day as that data saw the light of day, the Crown Prosecution Service released some of its own, illustrating “significant overlap” between domestic abuse and violence against women and girls (referred to by the shorthand VAWG) (https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/complex-layers-abuse-provide-new-prosecution-challenge-tackling-violence-against-women-and).

The numbers included some truly shocking findings, including the fact that more than one-third of incidents which led to a criminal charge of rape arose out of domestic abuse.

In addition, the CPS found that more than one-in-10 charges of coercive and controlling behaviour were also linked to rape, while nearly 70 per cent of harassment cases were associated with domestic abuse.

Although the scale of such behaviour is appalling, it sadly comes as little surprise to find that abuse is common.

A considerable proportion of my caseload and that of my Hall Brown colleagues features some element of domestic abuse.

In my opinion, the important thing is not to be overwhelmed by the incidence of abuse but to determine the most appropriate way to confront the issue and help those affected by it.

The CPS’ data coincided with the launch of a five-year action plan to tackle abuse, part of a wider Government initiative to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

I was particularly struck by the remarks of the Service’s Director of Policy, Baljit Ubhey, the woman in charge of its approach to the problem.

“We cannot be blinkered”, she said. “We cannot put these crimes into boxes. We cannot ignore the overlap”.

From my perspective, that not only applies to cases involving physical or sexual abuse but also the broader issues which we handle.

The forms of abuse present in these matters can profoundly influence the way in which victims leave an abusive relationship.

In my experience, for instance, some victims are so scarred by coercion from their partners that they often appear willing to give in to the demands of those individuals on the division of marital assets, something which can have long-lasting consequences for their future financial security.

Achieving a fair financial outcome in the first instance is critical because it is extremely difficult to revisit the basis of a financial settlement at a later date, even if claiming that you were a victim of domestic abuse at the time.

Part of our role in helping clients is the recognition that we as family lawyers are not specifically trained to provide emotional support.

That is why Hall Brown works with a variety of external specialists, such as therapists, psychologists and divorce coaches, who can offer the additional support which clients may require.

This approach creates a comprehensive package, helping individuals navigate the immediate challenges which can be thrown up by a divorce and, hopefully, begin their lives thereafter with more awareness and confidence.

That is, I feel, part of a broader understanding of the importance of taking domestic abuse more seriously.

More data – this time published by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) – revealed that the number of Non-Molestation Orders (NMOs) issued by family courts in England and Wales last year was 44 per cent higher than the decade before (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-court-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2025/family-court-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2025).

In an effort to further improve the official response to domestic abuse, a new type of order – the Domestic Abuse Protective Order (DAPO) – is currently midway through a two-year pilot in various parts of England and Wales (https://www.ncdv.org.uk/domestic-abuse-protection-orders/#:~:text=The%20pilot%20started%2027th,1st%20of%20May%202025.).

The DAPO is similar to the NMO in certain respects and certain terms – preventing, for example, abusers from contacting, threatening or harassing victims – and remain in force for a similar period of time

However, DAPOs are easier to obtain and, if breached, can result in a five-year jail term.

It underlines how much progress has been made in recent years in attempting to address a problem which can manifest in many different ways within a relationship.

Whilst advances have undoubtedly been achieved and are encouraging, they also serve as a stark reminder of how much more work can still be done to ensure that home is no longer equated with harm for millions of people.