Domestic abuse is a hidden issue. Young people are not traditionally considered to be affected by the problem, but according to the British Crime Survey, 16- to 19-year-olds are more likely to suffer abuse from a partner than all other age groups, with 13 per cent of young women and six per cent of young men falling victim, compared with seven per cent of women and five per cent of men in the rest of the population.
The official definition of domestic violence is limited to people over the age of 18 who are in abusive relationships. But from March next year, the government wants to widen it to include 16- and 17-year-olds and victims of psychological abuse such as “coercive control”.
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