Domestic abuse
Intelligence assessment
Domestic abuse refers to deliberate, ongoing, and controlling behaviours such as emotional, financial, physical, sexual, stalking, and harassment, used by one person to exert power over another within an intimate or family relationship. Often hidden and under reported, many cases never reach the police, meaning official data only captures part of the picture. Understanding the nature and impact of domestic abuse on individuals, families, and communities is essential to delivering effective, high-quality services across Lancashire.
Estimates from the CSEW year ending March 2025 survey showed that 7.8% of people aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse in the last year (around 3.8 million people). This represents no statistically significant change compared with the March 2024 survey.
In 2024/25, police in England and Wales flagged 815,941 offences as domestic abuse-related, including 634,912 violence against the person offences, a 4% drop from the previous year, mainly due to fewer violent offences. This decline may reflect real changes or shifts in how conduct crimes are recorded. The proportion of violent offences linked to domestic abuse remained at 33%, unchanged from the previous year.
The latest CSEW domestic abuse specific data for 2024/25 is due out November 2025 therefore the following figures are from the 2023/24 report.
51,183 domestic abuse-related prosecutions took place in England and Wales in 2023/24, 3.6% less when compared to 51,388 in 2022/23. In Lancashire, 2,071 prosecutions took place in year end March 2024 equating to a 17% of all prosecutions in Lancashire, 5% higher when compared with England and Wales. 74% of domestic abuse related prosecutions resulted in a conviction, slightly lower than the previous year of 78% and when compared to England and Wales (76%).
In Lancashire-14, 36,266 domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes were recorded, equivalent to 23 incidents and crimes per 1,000 population. This is slightly higher than the England and Wales year ending March 2023 rate of 22 per 1,000 population, but lower when compared with the North West at 24 per 1,000 population.
The number of domestic abuse cases open to Lancashire's Children and Family Wellbeing service (CFW) increased by almost 17%, from an average of 839 in 2022/23 to an average of 981 in 2023/24.
Please note: The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) data for the year ending March 2024 is based on a split sample, as new domestic abuse questions have been tested since April 2023. Because of the reduced sample size, caution is advised when interpreting these results. Police recorded crime data does not measure the true prevalence of domestic abuse. Comparisons with previous years should also be made carefully, as changes in police recording practices may affect the figures. Further information can be found here
This joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) (PDF 450 KB) summarises all the evidence available both nationally and locally that can inform decision making around the provision of services by statutory and voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS) agencies for domestic abuse within Lancashire. More details are contained in the technical reports.
- The evidence base (PDF 1.3 MB) looks at current literature and Lancashire partnership intelligence about the prevalence and trends in reported domestic abuse in the county. It explores the characteristics of known victims and perpetrators and discusses the factors which can make the problem worse. It also looks at policy changes and their implication for all services dealing with domestic abuse.
- The service user experience consultation (PDF 563 KB) gives the qualitative view of domestic abuse in the county through in-depth interviews with a number of survivors of domestic abuse.
- The service mapping (PDF 587 KB) review looks at current domestic abuse service provision across the Lancashire-12 area.
- The good practice report (PDF 569 KB) looks at evaluations of national and local interventions.
- A report focusing in on children and young people (PDF 406 KB)
The JSNA and accompanying reports have been developed by a multi-agency team encompassing all the statutory agencies who deliver services related to domestic abuse in Lancashire.
From this evidence a number of recommendations have been developed around prevention, early identification and disclosure, early intervention, commissioning of services, workforce development, building resilience and developing inter-agency collaboration.
Improving the police response to domestic abuse
In an HMIC report, Lancashire Constabulary stood out as providing a better service to victims of domestic abuse than other forces. Part of its strength is its ability to deliver a service in partnership with a comparatively high number of Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs), who are funded by a range of partners and are able to support a range of cases not just the high risk ones. It failed on one element of the survey, by not being able to provide data on repeat victims of domestic abuse. Download this report - HMIC Lancashire Improving the police response to domestic abuse (PDF 155 KB).
Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO)
Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) and Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs) were rolled out across all 43 police forces in England and Wales from 8 March 2014. DVPOs were introduced in Lancashire on 28 July 2014 and from this date to 31 December 2014, 34 DVPNs were authorised by the rank of superintendent or above, 31 DVPOs granted by court and one DVPO breached. Download the report - Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPO): One year on - Home Office assessment of national roll-out.
Page updated Sept 2025