In a significant release of statistics, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has disclosed that approximately one in eight women experienced forms of violence over the past year. This troubling revelation, which encompasses sexual assault, domestic abuse, and stalking, is part of the recent Crime Survey for England and Wales up to March 2025. The data indicates that 12.8 percent of women compared to 8.4 percent of men faced such crimes, revealing a stark gender disparity in victimization rates.
The published figures reveal a broader picture of societal violence and its disproportionate effect on women. Overall, about 5.2 million individuals aged 16 and above, equating to nearly 10.6 percent of the population, reported experiencing one or more of these invasive crime types. This survey marks a pivotal moment as it presents a combined estimate for these three crimes for the first time. It serves as a critical metric through which the ONS plans to monitor the UK government’s commitment to halving violence against women and girls (VAWG) over the next decade.
Additionally, while the ONS will elaborate on how these statistics will be interpreted in conjunction with other data, the individual breakdown of incidents is equally concerning. The report indicates that approximately 1.4 million individuals (2.9 percent) encountered stalking, while around 3.8 million (7.8 percent) reported experiencing domestic abuse. Moreover, about 900,000 individuals (1.9 percent) were victims of sexual assault, and 4.2 million (8.6 percent) faced some form of harassment.
Furthermore, the ONS suggests a slightly higher estimate from the previous year, stating that 5.4 million people, or 11.3 percent, experienced one or various forms of these crimes. However, they caution against directly comparing these estimates year on year, as the figures are still under review and subject to modifications.
This troubling data aligns with ongoing critiques. A report from the UK’s spending watchdog in January pointed out that the Home Office’s measures against the escalating issue of VAWG had not yielded improved outcomes for victims. Despite various strategies implemented since 2010, including the establishment of a dedicated team during the last Conservative administration, the National Audit Office found insufficient evidence to suggest progress on these fronts.
In response to the report, the Home Office expressed that prior evaluations focused on the previous government’s shortcomings and emphasized that the current Labour administration is dedicated to engendering a transformative response to the issue. Women’s Aid, a prominent charity, received the newly published ONS data positively, describing it as a step towards a more nuanced understanding of these crimes and reflecting the government’s efforts to address VAWG conclusively. However, Sarah Davidge, the head of research and evaluation at the charity, pointed out that it is crucial to acknowledge that the data does not account for the frequency of victimization. Women often face higher rates of repeated victimization and are at increased risk of severe harm or fatality compared to male victims.
In a broader scope, separate statistics from the crime survey reveal that overall crime incidents in England and Wales reached 9.4 million in the year leading to March 2025—a 7 percent increase from the prior year. Notably, fraud incidents saw a staggering increase of 31 percent, marking around 4.2 million cases—the highest since the measurement of fraud began in 2017.
Although trends in police-reported crime remain largely stable, incidents of shoplifting have heightened for a fourth consecutive year, reaching unprecedented levels. In total, there were 530,643 shoplifting occurrences documented in 2024/25, reflecting a 20 percent rise from 2023/24, while theft-related offences from individuals have also surged, reaching a record high.
In summary, these statistics from the ONS reveal a disconcerting reality regarding violence against women in the UK. The figures underscore the urgent need for effective strategies to combat VAWG and provide a clearer understanding of the overall crime landscape in England and Wales.
