Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will launch an inquiry into the reasons for, and implications for her policies of, the recent increase in domestic violence cases in the UK.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that the trend in the prevalence of domestic abuse has been flat since 2007/08.

In 2012/13, the number of police recorded incidents of domestic abuse was at its highest level since 2007/08, at 838,026. In addition, latest data from the CPS show that the volume of domestic abuse referrals from the police rose to 103,569 in 2013-14 – a rise of 15,459 referrals (17.5%) from 2012-13 and the highest level ever. 72,905 (70.4% of these referrals) were charged, the highest volumes and proportions since 2007/08. We welcome this increase in reporting and find it encouraging that victims can have greater confidence that their cases will be brought to prosecution with a greater number of perpetrators brought to justice.