Refuge survey exposes public blindspot on domestic abuse at home

New data from Refuge shows that more than half of UK adults (57%) acknowledge that the home is where women are most at risk of abuse, even though 85% believe most people feel safe in their own home.

Although women are more acutely aware of this threat (62% compared with 52% of men), misconceptions remain: when asked where women are most commonly abused, 14% cited outdoor public spaces such as parks, 10% the street, 5% public transport, 4% the workplace, and 10% were unsure.

This highlights a persistent gap in public understanding: while the home is widely assumed to be safe, many still overestimate the danger from strangers outside and underestimate the risks posed by those closest to them.

This matters because abuse behind closed doors can have fatal consequences. In the year ending March 2025, 75 women were killed by a current or former partner or family member in England and Wales – the deadliest outcome of domestic abuse.

The poll, conducted by YouGov on behalf of Refuge, also highlights gaps in awareness around how abuse is evolving inside the home. Four in 10 UK adults (42%) say they have heard nothing at all about abusers monitoring, manipulating, or controlling someone through technology such as smart devices, while only a small minority (6%) report knowing a lot.

This is despite the fact that Refuge’s dedicated Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment team saw referrals rise by 62% in the first nine months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, with concerns about hidden microphones and cameras in the home being reported in the majority of cases.

Across the UK, a domestic abuse crisis is hiding in plain sight – in every city, town, and neighbourhood – and because it is happening behind closed doors, it is easier to ignore.

Refuge’s Home is Where the Hurt is campaign confronts this reality head-on. Its film, released earlier this week, subverts the familiar ‘house tour’ content often seen from estate agent influencers, gradually revealing subtle but unsettling signs of abuse. It racked up more than 2,500 views on YouTube in just 24 hours, with tens of thousands more across social media. It racked up more than 2,500 views on YouTube in just 24 hours, with tens of thousands more across social media. 

The campaign has rolled out across major out-of-home sites across the UK, including billboards and shopping centres, and on Saturday – the eve of International Women’s Day – Tower 42 will be illuminated with the charity’s logo, turning one of London’s most recognisable landmarks into a symbol of support.

Next week, Refuge will take its campaign directly to the Houses of Parliament, with a highly visual call to action, urging the Government to address the £55.5 million annual funding shortfall in safe accommodation and refuge services.

Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said: “Too often we are taught to fear strangers, when the reality is that the most dangerous place for a woman is often her own home. This survey shows a public belief in safety that masks a deadly truth. Abuse happens behind closed doors – and for too many women, it is fatal. Our campaign is shining a light on these hidden harms, and the fact specialist services like ours need urgent, sustained funding to support survivors and, ultimately, save lives.”

Refuge Ambassador Sharon Gaffka said: “I hope this campaign helps people recognise the warning signs of abuse in their communities and empowers more women to seek help. No woman should ever feel unsafe in her own home.”

To watch Refuge’s Home is Where the Hurt is film, visit: Home is Where the Hurt is.

If you or someone close to you has felt unsafe at home because of a current or former partner or family member, Refuge is here for you. Every day we support women and their children escaping abuse, and our specialist services save lives.

To help more women find Refuge, text REFUGE to 70560 to donate £10*.