Londoners least likely in England to recognise or report domestic abuse
Londoners are much less likely to recognise and report various forms of domestic abuse than people in other parts of the country, according to new findings from domestic abuse charity Refuge.
A UK-wide survey, commissioned by Refuge and carried out in February 2025, reveals that adults in London are over 13% less likely than those in other regions of England to recognise signs of abuse, including economic and psychological abuse, technology-facilitated abuse, and coercive or controlling behaviour.
• Londoners are 17.6% less likely to recognise this abuse compared to adults in the South of England.
• They are 16.6% less likely than those in the Midlands, 14.2% less likely than those in the North, and 13.3% less likely than those in the East of England.
The survey also shows that even when Londoners do recognise these forms of abuse, they are less likely to report them.
Compared to Londoners, adults in the Midlands are 10.9% more likely to report abuse they recognise, with those in the East 10.2% more likely and those in the North 7.1% more likely.
These findings suggest that lower recognition alone does not fully explain the gap in reporting rates.
They also highlight a need to better understand the barriers preventing people in London from identifying and seeking help for abuse – including, potentially, levels of awareness, access to support services, and degrees of trust in institutions such as the Metropolitan Police.
Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said:
“The lower rates of recognition and reporting of subtle forms of domestic abuse in London are deeply concerning. These forms of abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence but are often overlooked or misunderstood.
“We need to better understand why Londoners may be less likely to come forward – whether that’s due to awareness, accessibility of services, or broader societal factors such as public trust in authorities.
“In recent years, confidence in the Met Police has been shaken by a series of high-profile scandals involving misogyny, racism, and violence against women. While we cannot say with certainty that this is driving underreporting, it is a factor we cannot ignore when considering how survivors perceive their options for seeking help.
“For anyone experiencing abuse to feel safe coming forward, there must be confidence that they will be heard and protected. This means a justice system – and police force – that earns and maintains the public’s trust, especially among those most at risk.”
Refuge is calling on authorities to prioritise rebuilding public trust and strengthening accountability, in light of the concerning regional disparities highlighted by the findings.
For the Met Police, this includes taking steps such as suspending officers accused of violence against women and girls, strengthening vetting procedures, and ensuring all officers receive specialist domestic abuse training.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, you can call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit www.refuge.org.uk for more information and support
