Initially the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the rising cost of living, have highlighted and contributed to an increase in people feeling trapped and unable to leave abusive partners. Data reveals that 500 searches for “how to leave an abusive relationship” occur each month in the UK, up 4% from last year, while data from ONS reveals the number of police-recorded domestic abuse-related crimes in England and Wales increased by 7.7% in 2022.
As we begin to see a shift in the number of reported domestic abuse incidents across the UK, Weightmans seeks to explore the causes and legal rights people have across England and Wales when seeking to leave an abusive relationship.