No peace this holiday: domestic abuse and Christmas 2025

Updated 23 December 2025

For the victims of domestic abuse, the Christmas holidays are anything but relaxing. The domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid sees a 15% rise in enquiries just after the festive period. There are many reasons for this, as the charity’s head of research suggests:

“Many women have been forced to spend what should be a happy time trapped in a potentially life-threatening situation. Additionally, due to many services … running reduced hours, many struggle to access the help that they need.“

The ONS releases its domestic abuse figures, drawing from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, police recorded crime and other organisations. It never makes for easy reading. According to the latest report for March 2024 - March 2025.

• Approximately 3.8 million people (7.8%) aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse
• Of these, 2.2 million were female and 1.5 million male

Whilst the ONS stats showed there was no "statistically significant change" in domestic abuse experienced, there are some positive signs of a shift in attitude:

• The number of reported domestic-abuse related crimes reported decrease to 816,493 from 851,062
•  Crucially, the number of prosecutions increased to nearly 55,000

However, the charity Refuge estimates that less than 24% of domestic abuse crime is reported to the police. (13) Equally, for the majority of victims, the abuse may have been going on for some time, as on average a woman makes seven attempts to leave an abusive partner for good before finally getting out. (No figures were available for male victims.)

1.5 million men were victims of domestic abuse last year. According to the ONS 2022/23 stats, one in 7 men (13.9%) will be a victim of domestic abuse in their lifetime. Yet there are fewer support services and refuge spaces available for male victims, and according to SafeLives:

“Only 4.8% of victims of domestic abuse being supporting by local domestic services are men.”

One good news statistic is that the number of male victims who don’t tell anyone about the abuse fell from 49% in 2017/18 to 21% in 2022/23. (No comparable figures available for 2023-24.)

 

The cost of living factor

The charity Refuge has seen how the cost of living crisis has had a profound effect rates of domestic abuse, by:

“Creating opportunities for, or is intensifying, economic abuse, which can include withholding funds, accruing debt in a survivor’s name and restricting a survivor’s ability to work.”

As the charity Safe Lives explains:

“The threat of financial destitution or homelessness have long been known to be barriers to leaving an abusive relationship. The cost of living crisis is only exacerbating this issue … Perpetrators of domestic abuse are using concerns of financial hardship during the cost of living crisis as an extra tool for coercive control. This can include restricting access to money, work or items they need such as clothing and food.”

 

The Silent Solution

If you are experiencing domestic violence and/or abuse, you can get urgent help from the police without speaking out loud on your phone using the Silent Solution.

• Dial 999
• Listen to the questions from the operator
• Respond by coughing or tapping your device, if you can
• If prompted, press 55 to let the operator know it's a genuine emergency and you'll be put through to police

Once you and your children are safe, contact us for professional legal advice on how to proceed.

You can download our Domestic Abuse helpline info sheet here.

 

Children and domestic abuse

Children tend to be caught up more in abuse during holidays and weekends, where the tension between their parents are heightened by being in close proximity. In 2023, over 827,000 children in England and Wales were caught up in domestic abuse at home. It was predicted that over 660 child protection referrals would be made on Christmas Day 2023 alone. The charity Refuge estimates that 20% of children in the UK have lived with an adult perpetrating domestic abuse.

The government has committed to cutting violence against women and girls, yet against this backdrop, 27% of domestic abuse services in England and Wales have had to turn away children due to funding shortages. Over 51% said they had a waiting list due to the number of referrals. (10) That's why it is so important to act now if you or your children are experiencing domestic abuse whether at Christmas or at any time. The sooner you can seek help, the sooner you can get seen or onto those lists.

As Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said:

"Investing in children’s futures must start now. The upcoming spending review is a critical moment for the government to provide specialist domestic abuse services with the funding they need to pull them back from the brink and ensure they can be there for any child affected by domestic abuse.” (12)

Many victims of domestic abuse say that they stay with an abusive partner for longer “for the sake of the children”. You may have done just that over the Christmas period - and realised that it only prolongs the emotional trauma and risk to both yourself and your children. Please contact us for professional legal advice on how to separate from an abusive or coercive partner or spouse.

 

Keeping safe at any time

CASWA have an emergency plan to help victims stay safer:

• Plan to visit family/friends to reduce time with the abuser.
• Have a safety plan, such as ensuring you have your phone with you (with plenty of charge)
• Keep some cash close to hand along with your driving licence and car keys.
• Identify a friend/family member that you can seek help from.
• If you have a hidden phone, turn off the automatic government alert setting

 

Suffering abuse? Act now

Don’t wait for the abuse to escalate - the time to act is NOW. If you are a victim of any form of domestic abuse, emotional abuse or coercive control, contact us at LGFL Ltd to arrange an urgent consultation. We can often see you and/or talk to you within 48 hours.

• Call us
• Email us
• Request your consultation online

 

If you are in any immediate danger, call 999 for police help. They WILL respond.

There are local and national organisations who can help domestic and/or emotional abuse victims. Download the list here:

 

 

About the author

Rita Gupta is Co-founder and Managing Director of family law firm LGFL Ltd, serving family law for clients in the Reading and Thames Valley area, across the UK and for international clients involved in UK divorce cases. She has featured as a family law expert on national TV and radio, including BBC Radio 5 Live with Nicky Campbell, LBC, GB News with Darren McCaffrey and local TV and radio.

• Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer
• Listed in Chambers and Partners
• Listed Leading Lawyer at Wiselaw
• Member of Resolution

 

 

SOURCES:

 

(10) Domestic Abuse Commissioner. (2025, April). Victims in their own right? Babies, children and young people’s experiences of domestic abuse (Report). https://domesticabusecommissioner.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/dac_bcyp_executive-summary_FINAL-WEB-3.pdf

(11) Office for National Statistics. (2025, November 26). Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview. ONS Centre for Crime and Justice. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwalesoverview/november2025

(12) Domestic Abuse Commissioner. (2025, April 29). Thousands of children facing domestic abuse alone as support services risk financial collapse (Press release). https://domesticabusecommissioner.uk/thousands-of-children-facing-domestic-abuse-alone-as-support-services-risk-financial-collapse/

(13) Refuge. (n.d.). What is domestic abuse? Facts and statistics. https://refuge.org.uk/what-is-domestic-abuse/the-facts/