Physical and psychological abuse in relationships amongst younger people is reported to be on the increase according to new data by support services provider Refuge.
In what is described as a ‘disturbing rise in domestic abuse among young women and girls aged 16 – 25’, Refuge say both threats to harm and threats to kill were marginally up on previous years.
The data was taken from Refuge’s own work with young survivors who received longer-term support during 2024/25 (meaning they chose to engage beyond one-off contact or information). Psychological abuse was the most commonly reported form of harm, affecting 73% of 842 individuals. Within that group, six in 10 said they had experienced coercive control.
Almost half (49%) of those who reported psychological abuse said their perpetrator had threatened to harm them – a 4% rise from the previous yea – and a further 35% said their abuser had threatened to kill them, a 3% increase year on year.
An Independent Porn Review, conducted by Baroness Gabby Bertin, and published in February of this year suggested dangerous sexual acts, particularly strangulation, have been normalised through pornography. Refuge say such violence is a ‘well-established predictor of future domestic homicide’ adding it has seen a near 10% increase in young women reporting strangulation or suffocation. Depicting such acts in pornography will become illegal under an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill and follows new guidelines for judges and magistrates when sentencing strangulation and suffocation offences in England and Wales.
Refuge has called for urgent reform to domestic abuse education in schools and welcomes the latest Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance from the Department for Education, which will help young people recognise warning signs – especially less visible forms of abuse such as coercive control.
Overall, young people made up 16% (2,857 out of 17,607) of new referrals to the domestic abuse charity’s services between 2024 /25. Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said:
“Domestic abuse often goes unnoticed, yet these new figures reveal the harrowing reality: many young lives are being devastated by this horrific crime. Young people are facing unacceptably high levels of psychological abuse and coercive control – which can be just as damaging as physical violence – but if these survivors are overlooked, they may be unsure where to turn for support or how to recognise the warning signs.”
“Refuge’s incredible team supports thousands of young survivors every year, but to actively tackle domestic abuse, there must be a major societal shift towards improved education that shines a light on the many red flags of abuse. Prevention is our most powerful tool, and only by empowering all young people with knowledge, confidence, and support can we ensure they grow up free from abuse”
Earlier this year, research commissioned by Refuge found that only a quarter of UK adults (26%) are aware that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. Awareness is particularly low among young people – only 57% of 18-24-year-olds recognised that sharing intimate images of someone without their consent constitutes abuse, compared to 88% of over-55s. The Government having made a pledge to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the next decade. If they are to succeed, education must be a core element of preventative measures say Refuge.
