Key facts and figures
Our work is important given the prevalence of Domestic Violence within Northern Ireland:
- More than one in four women will suffer domestic violence at some point in their lives.
- During 07/08 11 people were killed as a result of domestic violence in Northern Ireland
- Research undertaken in 2001, conservatively estimated that 11,000 children are living with domestic violence in their lives (Northern Ireland).
- 77% of victims of domestic abuse are women
- Domestic violence has more repeat victims than any other crime - on average there will have been 35 assaults before a victim calls the police
- 2000 women and children stayed in Women’s Aid refuges in Northern Ireland during 2007/08.
- NI Domestic Violence helpline receives approximately 20,000 calls per year; on average 8000 calls are received annually from first time callers.
- Domestic violence is also a major cause of homelessness. 19% of people presenting as homeless cited domestic violence as a reason. On average, 700 families each year within Northern Ireland have to be re-housed because of violence.
Every minute in the UK, the Police receive a call from the public for assistance for domestic violence. This leads to police receiving an estimated 1,300 calls each day or over 570,000 each year. (Stanko, 2000).