Following our investigation into the number of domestic abuse reported crimes across each UK Police Force, we set out to understand how many of these victims actually sought out compensation.
Most Common Reasons Domestic Violence Claims Are Rejected
Our results found that under 1% of domestic violence victims pursued any legal damages following either physical or mental abuse.
Moreover, of those that do claim – just 2% were awarded a compensation payout. But the average payout per domestic violence claim was revealed to be around £6,000.
Our researchers submitted Freedom of Information Requests to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) to find out how many victims pursued legal claims in the last year (between 31/03/2023 and 1/04/2024).
We also asked for the gender of claimants as well as their age ranges. Surprisingly, the CICA did not provide information regarding gender. It said: “The application of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Schemes does not depend upon the gender of the applicant, therefore we do not collect this information.”
However, the Authority did provide the age ranges of claimants within the last year which were between 0-87 years-old.
Our researchers also asked for the most common ‘main injuries’ stated by claimants.
Similarly, we obtained information regarding the number of claims in the past year that were settled, rejected and withdrawn as well as the total amount paid out in settled claims.
Lastly, we asked for the most common reasons domestic violence claims are rejected.
Find the results of our research below as well as the outcomes of our last investigation which revealed the number of domestic abuse crimes recorded by every UK police force between 31st November 2022 – October 31st, 2023.
Just 2% of domestic abuse claims awarded a payout last year as top 10 reasons for rejected claims revealed
Just 2 percent of domestic abuse claims were awarded a damages payout year which amounted to a total of £517,367.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) scheme is able to award damages to domestic abuse victims in cases where it feels there is enough evidence to suggest a crime has been committed.
But our investigation reveals that under 1% of victims seek compensation.
Moreover, of those who did undertake the legal route last year (2023/2024) just 2% were awarded damages.
Police recorded a total of 889,918 incidents of domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023, according to the ONS (Office for National Statistics).
Yet, we discovered that just 3,765 domestic violence claims were received by the CICA last year.
Through data obtained via Freedom of Information Requests, we found that just 0.42% of domestic violence victims pursued legal damages
The CICA confirmed that it does not class ‘domestic abuse’ as an incident type. Instead, the authority provided details pertaining to Domestic or Family Violence.
It revealed that just 3,765 such claims were received in the last year – between March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024 from victims aged between 0 and 87 years-old.
The most common injuries reported to the authority included bruises on the head, face or neck, black eye, cuts and head injury causing concussion, headaches or loss of balance.
Top 10 most common injuries on Domestic Violence Claims form
Of those 3,765 claims, 16% (597) were rejected and a further three have been withdrawn.
82 of the claims were awarded damages paid out which amounted to £517,367 – averaging £6,300 per claim.
Domestic violence victims often find it difficult to leave their abusive circumstances as the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) says: “A victim’s reasons for staying with their abusers are extremely complex and, in most cases, are based on the reality that their abuser will follow through with the threats they have used to keep them trapped: the abuser will hurt or kill them, they will hurt or kill the kids, they will win custody of the children, they will harm or kill pets or others, they will ruin their victim financially — the list goes on.”
This could explain why such an infinitesimal amount of victims pursue legal claims following domestic or family violence.
But there are further hurdles for victims who do pursue claims as the CICA reveals the most common reasons for rejected claims.
Of the 597 claims that were rejected last year, all were assessed under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012.
The number of Domestic Abuse Crimes Recorded by UK Police Forces between (01/11/2022-31/10/2023)
This information was obtained via a series of Freedom of Information Requests sent to each UK Police Force.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 21, 761
Number of female victims: 14,865
Number of male victims: 5,735
12% of all crimes recorded by Avon and Somerset Police between Nov 22-Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes
Bedfordshire Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 8,272
Number of female victims: 5,719
Number of male victims: 2,117
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 10,309
Number of female victims: 7,041
Number of male victims: 2,623
Cheshire Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 15,826
Number of female victims: 10,988
Number of male victims: 4,027
19% of all crimes recorded by Cheshire Constabulary between Nov 22-Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Cleveland Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 14,171
Number of female victims: 10,201
Number of male victims: 3,591
Cumbria Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 6,061
Number of female victims: 4,444
Number of male victims: 1,592
17% of all crimes recorded by Cumbria Constabulary between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes
Derbyshire Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 19,640
Number of female victims: 9,307
Number of male victims: 4,268
20% of all crimes recorded by Derbyshire Constabulary between Nov 22- Nov 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
*Includes figures for November 2023
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 20,972
Number of female victims: 14,495
Number of male victims: 5,296
Durham Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 13,374
Number of female victims: 9,199
Number of male victims: 2,998
*Includes figures for November 2023
Essex Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 24,456
Number of female victims: 17,423
Number of male victims: 6,689
12% of all crimes recorded by Essex Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Gloucestershire Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 10,773
Number of female victims: 7,446
Number of male victims: 2,832
20% of all crimes recorded by Gloucestershire Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Greater Manchester Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 62,126
Number of female victims: 45,617
Number of male victims: 16,124
19% of all crimes recorded by Greater Manchester Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Hertfordshire Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 11,549
Number of female victims: 8,172
Number of male victims: 2,954
15% of all crimes recorded by Hertfordshire Constabulary between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Kent Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 30,685
Number of female victims: 22,236
Number of male victims: 8,492
18% of all crimes recorded by Kent Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Lancashire Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 23,308
Number of female victims: 16,847
Number of male victims: 6,070
17% of all crimes recorded by Lancashire Police between Nov 22-Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
*Includes figures for November 2023
Leicestershire Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 16,899
Number of female victims: 12,597
Number of male victims: 4,441
16% of all crimes recorded by Leicestershire Constabulary between Nov 22-Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Merseyside Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 30,494
Number of female victims: 23,820
Number of male victims: 7,894
19% of all crimes recorded by Merseyside Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Metropolitan Police Service
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 96,765
Number of female victims: 67,537
Number of male victims: 24,415
Norfolk Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 12,111
Number of female victims: 8,321
Number of male victims: 3,240
18% of all crimes recorded by Norfolk Constabulary between Nov 22- Nov 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
*Includes figures for November 23023.
North Wales Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 12,130
Number of female victims: 8,621
Number of male victims: 3,077
20% of all crimes recorded by North Wales Police between Nov 22-Nov 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
North Yorkshire Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 7,738
Number of female victims: 5,551
Number of male victims: 2,136
Northamptonshire Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 10,253
Number of female victims: 7,178
Number of male victims: 2,374
17% of all crimes recorded by Northamptonshire Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Northumbria Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 26,317
Number of female victims: 18,957
Number of male victims: 6,314
18% of all crimes recorded by Northumbria Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
Nottinghamshire Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 17,074
Number of female victims: 12,465
Number of male victims: 4,065
16% of all crimes recorded by Nottinghamshire Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
South Wales Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 18,347
Number of female victims: 13,279
Number of male victims: 4,486
15% of all crimes recorded by South Wales Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
*Includes figures for November 2023.
Suffolk Constabulary
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 8,510
Number of female victims: 5,974
Number of male victims: 2,242
17% of all crimes recorded by Suffolk Constabulary between Nov 22- Oct 23 were domestic abuse-related crimes.
*Includes figures for November 2023.
Surrey Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 10,213
Number of female victims: 7,321
Number of male victims: 2,682
Sussex Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 18,292
Number of female victims: 13,240
Number of male victims: 4,899
14% of all crimes recorded by Sussex Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 are domestic abuse-related crimes.
Warwickshire Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 6,706
Number of female victims: 5,050
Number of male victims: 1,800
17% of all crimes recorded by Warwickshire Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 are domestic abuse-related crimes.
West Mercia Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 16,624
Number of female victims: 7,843
Number of male victims: 3,309
17% of all crimes recorded by West Mercia Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 are domestic abuse-related crimes.
West Midlands Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 63,842
Number of female victims: 46,912
Number of male victims: 16,120
17% of all crimes recorded by West Midlands Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 are domestic abuse-related crimes.
*Includes figures for November 2023.
West Yorkshire Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 59,681
Number of female victims: 43,691
Number of male victims: 16,152
20% of all crimes recorded by West Yorkshire Police between Nov 22- Oct 23 are domestic abuse-related crimes.
Wiltshire Police
Total number of domestic abuse crimes: 7,200
Number of female victims: 4,957
Number of male victims: 1,968
17% of all crimes recorded by Wiltshire Police between Nov 22-Oct 23 are domestic abuse-related crimes.
Get Legal Support After A Criminal Injury
Suffering domestic violence at the hands of an individual or organisation can be incredibly daunting.
Victims may see justice, an apology or compensation – anything to provide closure or solace.
Personal Injury Claims UK has a team of criminal injury experts at hand for anyone seeking legal advice surrounding domestic abuse.
They operate a 24-hour helpline and live chat service which you can access on their website.