Domestic
violence costs '£23bn'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3616542.stm
BBC
- 1st September 2004
Domestic
violence is costing the UK £23bn a year, according to government-commissioned
research.
The human
and emotional suffering caused by domestic violence cost the most
- at an estimated £17 billion.
Time off
work due to injuries caused by domestic violence cost employers
and workers nearly £3 billion a year, said deputy women's
minister Jacqui Smith.
The cost
to UK services, such as health and criminal justice, also cost £3
billion yearly, the research found.
The government
commissioned Professor Sylvia Walby at the University of Leeds to
investigate the cost of domestic violence.
She found
domestic violence cost the criminal justice system about a £1
billion a year, nearly a quarter of its budget for violent crime
and the NHS around £1.2 billion a year.
For social
services the cost was an estimated £250 million a year; local
housing authorities and housing associations £160 million
a year; and civil legal services over £300 million.
"Domestic
violence is a cost that is borne by everyone through the taxes to
pay for public services, lost economic output due to time off work
because of injuries, and the human and emotional costs to those
who suffer the violence," Prof Walby said.
Ms Smith
said the research showed "we are all affected by domestic violence,
it's a clear challenge to employers and agencies to take this as
seriously as we do.
'No
surprise'
"This
is a life or death issue and thousands turn up in casualty departments
and doctors surgeries with the scars and bruises of this appalling
abuse.
"We're
taking action at all levels, in the courts, with the police, in
schools, in hospitals, and housing to help rid our communities of
this abuse.
"It's
a problem for all of us, we cannot afford to ignore it, and all
have a role in tackling it."
Home Office
Minister Baroness Scotland said the emotional cost was "disturbing"
but the combined £6bn cost to services and employers was "unfortunately
no surprise".
"Domestic
violence is completely unacceptable and all of us should take responsibility
to challenge and root out abuse among our friends, our colleagues
and in our communities at large."
