Half of all women murdered last year died in fights with their husbands. On average, a woman will be assaulted 35 times before she rings the police. The British Medical Association says one in four women are subjected to physical abuse from their partner during their lifetime. Shelter says almost 60 per cent of calls to its domestic violence helpline come from single women. A majority of those were from women without children, leaving them with less legal protection and fewer housing rights.
Shelter says almost one in ten calls to their helpline come from men.
According to the recent British Crime Survey, violence by women accounts for six per cent of all assaults on men. Globally, male violence against women causes more deaths and disability among females than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war. The cost of helping victims of domestic violence is estimated at 2 billion a year.