Worries over violence and abuse towards women and girls across Northern Lincolnshire

Only one in 50 women across Northern Lincolnshire and the Humber region have never faced violence and abuse both before or in adulthood, according to a new study.

The VictimFocus study, launched by the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), also found between 83 and 91 per cent of violence and coercion against girls went unreported.

VictimFocus Director Dr Jessica Taylor said the study showed violence against women and girls was commonplace but it also raised questions over assumptions the perpetrators were mostly partners or ex-partners.

PCC Jonathan Evison said Humberside Police still had much more to do to tackle violence and abuse but added a fundamental shift was needed to root out misogyny across society.

VictimFocus surveyed 1,627 women and girls across the Humber, with 37 per cent from Hull and 25 per cent from the East Riding.

The remaining 37 per cent were from North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Being slapped, punched or hit, pushed or shoved, and kicked were the three most common forms of violence women faced before turning 18, with almost three-quarters experiencing the first form.

Around a third of women received threats to kill or harm them before reaching adulthood.

More than one in five reported being strangled or choked, thrown across a room or downstairs, bitten, spat at, or had threats to harm someone they love.

For adult women, more than half reported being slapped, punched or hit and pushed or shoved.

Almost half, 47 per cent, said items were thrown at them and 39 per cent had threats to kill or harm them made.

Almost three quarters of women, 71 per cent, were verbally or physically sexually harassed before turning 18, with 74 per cent touched inappropriately, before turning 18.

The equivalent figures for adult women were 72 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.

Almost half, 48 per cent, were kissed without consent, with 36 per cent raped by being manipulated into penetrative sex they did not consent to before turning 18.

For adult women, 46 per cent were kissed without consent while almost half, 48 per cent, were raped by being manipulated.

Two thirds of women surveyed reported being coerced by men who insulted them, put them down and made them feel bad before turning 18, as were 70 per cent of adult women.

Almost half were told what to wear before reaching adulthood, with half told how to dress after their 18th birthday.

More than two-fifths were accused of being mentally ill when someone abused them and were accused of cheating or having a jealous partner.

For adult women, 60 per cent were accused of being mentally ill with 57 per cent accused of cheating or having a jealous partner.

A quarter of women were stopped from seeing their friends, told where to go, had their social media checked or was told their abuser would kill themselves if they did not do what they were told.

The figure for adult women was one in three.

Almost nine tenths of women, 87 per cent, were catcalled in the street before their 18th birthday with 89 per cent facing it as adults.

More than half, 53 per cent, had sexual or inappropriate comments levelled against them while almost half, 46 per cent, received unsolicited nudes from men.

The equivalent figures were adult women were 63 per cent and 57 per cent respectively.

The proportion of those surveyed who were stalked or followed in person before turning 18 was 46 per cent.

The same amount of adult women reported that someone became obsessed with them, or stalked them.