Refuge reports rise in violent threats and strangulation among young people

• 73% of young survivors report psychological abuse  

• Threats to kill or harm on the rise 

• Reports of strangulation and suffocation up 9% 

• Refuge calls for urgent reform to domestic abuse education in schools 

New data from Refuge’s support services reveals a disturbing rise in domestic abuse among young women and girls aged 16 – 25, particularly involving psychological abuse, coercive control and physical violence. 

Among young survivors who received longer-term support (meaning they chose to engage beyond one-off contact or information) between 2024 – 2025, psychological abuse was the most commonly reported form of harm, affecting 73% of 842 individuals. Within that group, six in 10 said they had experienced coercive control – a pattern of behaviour designed to isolate, manipulate and intimidate.  

Almost half (49%) of those who reported psychological abuse said their perpetrator had threatened to harm them – a 4% rise from the previous year. Shockingly, a further 35% said their abuser had threatened to kill them, marking a 3% increase year on year.  

Physical abuse was also more prevalent during this period, particularly non-fatal strangulation and/or suffocation. Of the 62% (525 individuals) who reported physical violence, half said they had been strangled or suffocated – up a terrifying 9% from 2023-2024. This form of assault is not only highly dangerous but also a well-established predictor of future domestic homicide.  

Overall, young people made up 16% (2,857 out of 17,607) of new referrals to the domestic abuse charity’s services between 2024 – 2025.  

To tackle domestic abuse among young people, Refuge has long advocated for comprehensive education on healthy relationships. It welcomed the latest Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance from the Department for Education, which will help young people recognise warning signs – especially less visible forms of abuse such as coercive control. 

However, there remains a significant gap in service provisions for young people. The Government’s upcoming Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy must strengthen dedicated support services so that every young survivor can access the support they deserve. 

Lisa*, a survivor of domestic abuse, said: 

“The abuse I experienced started off with what seemed like little things. He’d say things like, ‘I don’t want you to hang out with this person,’ or ‘if you love me, you’ll do what I’m telling you. I’m just trying to look out for you.’ And then it just escalated from there. At the school I went to, I was never taught about abusive relationships – it was very much a taboo subject. So, for me, I didn’t know how to break that cycle until I was about 21.  

“We really need to find a way to talk about domestic abuse and coercive control in schools that isn’t judgemental, and these conversations need to involve everyone – boys and girls – so young people understand what abusive behaviour looks like. I have young nieces and nephews, and I never want to see them go through what I did.” 

Marnie*, another survivor, said:  

“My abusive relationship started at school. He wanted to see me all the time, which, at first, I thought was really nice – but then he isolated me from my friends and family. He began controlling what I wore and what I did, and even made me wear a ring on my wedding finger so it looked like I was ‘taken’. Eventually, the abuse became physical.  

“Better awareness of healthy relationships and what the red flags are could really help young people – because I had no idea what a healthy relationship was supposed to look like. We also need much more awareness of the fact that abuse is not always physical, because that’s often what held me back from seeking support.”  

Earlier this year, research commissioned by Refuge found that only a quarter of UK adults (26%) are aware that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. Awareness is particularly low among young people – only 57% of 18-24-year-olds recognised that sharing intimate images of someone without their consent constitutes abuse, compared to 88% of over-55s.   

In response, Refuge unveiled a powerful awareness campaign on International Women’s Day, installing around 100 physical red flags – mirrored by hundreds more on digital screens – at Outernet London. Aimed at exposing the often-hidden red flags in relationships with abusive partners, each flag displayed a real quote from a survivor, symbolising the often unseen, untold, unreported and unrecognised nature of domestic abuse. 

Refuge is urgently calling for greater awareness of the warning signs of abuse – especially among young people, a group too often overlooked despite experiencing alarmingly high rates of domestic abuse. With the Government having made an ambitious pledge to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the next decade, education must be a core element of preventative measures. 

Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said: 

“Domestic abuse often goes unnoticed, yet these new figures reveal the harrowing reality: many young lives are being devastated by this horrific crime. Young people are facing unacceptably high levels of psychological abuse and coercive control – which can be just as damaging as physical violence – but if these survivors are overlooked, they may be unsure where to turn for support or how to recognise the warning signs.  

“Refuge’s incredible team supports thousands of young survivors every year, but to actively tackle domestic abuse, there must be a major societal shift towards improved education that shines a light on the many red flags of abuse. Prevention is our most powerful tool, and only by empowering all young people with knowledge, confidence, and support can we ensure they grow up free from abuse.” 

*Survivor names have been changed to protect their anonymity. 

Notes on Data: 

• The 2024 – 2025 data covers 1st April 2024 – 31st March 2025. 

• The 2023 – 2024 comparative data covers 1st April 2023 – 31st March 2024. 

The services covered in this data are Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), outreach, floating support and resettlement, and refuge accommodation. 

Short-term clients are those who receive one-off support from Refuge—such as referrals to counsellors or help with safety planning—but choose not to continue with further support. Long-term clients are those who request and receive ongoing support beyond this initial assistance.