Britain is facing a sharp rise in violent threats and physical attacks against young women and girls aged 16–25, with cases of strangulation and suffocation on the increase, according to new figures from domestic abuse charity Refuge.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, 525 young women and girls receiving long-term support from Refuge reported physical violence. Around half had been subjected to strangulation or suffocation — a 9% rise from the previous year.
Surge in Threats and Psychological Abuse
Refuge’s data also revealed that nearly half of those reporting psychological abuse — around 615 individuals — had been threatened with harm, marking a 4% increase. Alarmingly, 35% said they had been threatened with death.
“Domestic abuse often goes unnoticed, yet these new figures reveal the harrowing reality: many young lives are being devastated by this horrific crime,” said Refuge CEO Gemma Sherrington. She called for a “major societal shift” towards better education on recognising early warning signs of abuse.
Escalating Coercive Control
Many victims reported experiencing coercive control — patterns of behaviour designed to isolate, manipulate, and intimidate. Survivors in Refuge’s report described how abuse often began subtly, with controlling behaviour, before escalating to severe violence. Such patterns, the charity warned, are frequently overlooked by authorities.
Reuters reported that the UK government will reassess a widely used police risk assessment tool after criticism that it downplays coercive and controlling behaviour.
Call for Stronger Education and Government Action
Refuge is urging the government to embed domestic abuse education more deeply into schools and to ensure the upcoming Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy includes stronger support for young people.
