Responding to the latest domestic homicide figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said:
“The latest ONS homicide figures lay bare a devastating reality that we are all too familiar with at Refuge: male violence continues to claim women’s lives, underscoring the urgent need for the Government to take bold, decisive action to deliver on its commitment to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) by 2034.
“Of the 111 domestic homicides recorded in the year ending March 2025, more than two thirds (75) were women aged 16 and over. Of these 75 women, all but four were killed by a man. Alarmingly, women were most likely to be killed at home – a stark reminder that for many women, the place that should offer safety is in fact the most dangerous.
“Tackling domestic abuse and VAWG demands a whole-society approach, including effective prevention, long-term support for survivors and meaningful action to hold perpetrators to account. Above all, the Government must commit to long-term, sustainable funding for specialist support services so that every woman is able to access the safety they deserve. Without this, women will continue to pay the price.”
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