Domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking: findings from the British Crime Survey

Some experience of domestic violence (abuse, threats, or force), sexual victimization, or stalking was reported by 36 percent of the sample. A minority, largely women, suffered multiple attacks, severe injuries, more than one form of interpersonal violence, and serious disruption to their lives. Overall, 45 percent of women and 26 percent of men aged 16-59 could recall being subject to domestic violence, sexual victimization, or stalking at least once in their lives. In cases of sexual assault, the rapist was an intimate in 54 percent of the cases after victims were 16 years old. Of the cases of aggravated stalking (violence in addition to the stalking) against women, 37 percent were committed by an intimate, 59 percent by other known persons, and 7 percent by strangers. For men in such cases, 8 percent were by an intimate, 70 percent by other known persons, and 30 percent by strangers. Women were more at risk than men for interpersonal violence, especially sexual assault. Younger respondents were more at risk for all forms of interpersonal violence than older respondents. Women in households with an income of less than 10,000 pounds were three and a half times more likely to suffer domestic violence than those living in households with an income of over 20,000 pounds; men were one and a half times more likely to suffer domestic violence. Information is also provided on victims' seeking help from the police and other agencies. Extensive tables and figures and 28 references.