Responses to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request returned by 15 police forces across England, which serve approximately a third of the country’s population, reveal of the average 1,444,225 domestic abuse incidents reported to police annually in England (ONS data from 2021 to 2023), 13 per cent have involved an infant being present. This translates to an estimated 187,750 babies (from birth to age 2) on average each year.
The For Baby’s Sake Trust, which carried out the research, says its findings highlight that babies and children are also victims of the dramatic increase in domestic abuse, which has ‘lifelong impacts on physical, emotional and mental health’.
It has called for a ‘co-ordinated, multi-sector response to safeguard babies and children during a period of escalating domestic abuse.’
Lauren Seager-Smith, chief executive of The For Baby's Sake Trust, commented, ‘We must unite to address this national emergency, ensuring that help and support is available for every family impacted by domestic abuse.
Although Labour's commitment to halving Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is commendable, we urge Government to take a whole-family approach that recognises the impact on babies and children.
‘This data is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of babies’ experience of domestic abuse. More work is needed to speak up for society's youngest citizens, and their parents.’
Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, said, ‘Too many babies, children and young people are experiencing the trauma of domestic abuse at a young age. We know that the impact of this can be life altering.
‘The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 established children as victims of domestic abuse in their own right, but three years on, this is not translating into practice.
‘Statutory agencies must prioritise building strong multi-agency partnerships and collaboration with specialist services. Underpinning this, agencies must receive specialist training on the impact of domestic abuse, including coercive control, on victims of all ages, so that no-one is left behind.’
