New survey reveals 15% of women experience economic abuse
New research by the SEA reveals around one in seven women have had their money and economic resources controlled by another person in the last 12 months
Around one in seven (15%) women have had their money and economic resources controlled by another person in the previous 12 months, a survey indicates.
Two-fifths (42%) did not speak to anyone, such as a family member or friend, about what they were going through, according to the report from charity Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA).
The charity found many women do not know anything about economic abuse.
55% of women said they do not know anything about this form of domestic abuse and a third (33%) know "a little" about it.
The charity continues that economic abuse is a 'dangerous and prevalent form of domestic abuse that takes many forms': including a current or ex-partner restricting access to money or bank accounts, damaging property or possessions, taking out loans or building up debt in a victim-survivor's name.
Rachel Williams, a domestic abuse survivor and campaigner in South Wales says she's not surprised by the survey findings.
“We know a lot of victims, survivors don't even have a bank account. And if you haven't got a bank account, you almost don't exist to a certain degree.
"A lot of perpetrators will stop their victims from working or if the victims are allowed to work, then the wages have to be handed over to the abuser.
“It is just another form of coercive controlling behaviour...
and as we know coercive controlling behaviour is the heartbeat of every domestic abusive relationship”.
The report, Counting The Cost: The Scale And Impact Of Economic Abuse In The UK, indicated women from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled women and younger women aged 18 to 24 were particularly likely to say they had experienced at least one form of economic abuse.
Meanwhile, 28% of women with children in the household had experienced economic abuse, compared with 10% of UK women without children, the research indicated.
The report also found victim-survivors who had heard the term "economic abuse" and knew something about it were more likely to seek help.
Rachel believes the number of economic abuse victims will rise over the next few years:
"Perpetrators of abuse are not held accountable for their crimes...
"So it will just increase.
"This is the ones we know of. And when we do look at the stats and the figure and the data, these are the ones that are coming forward and actually saying that, yes, I am having my money withheld or I am in abusive relationship.
"It's just the tip of the iceberg."
Sam Smethers, chief executive of Surviving Economic Abuse, said:
"Awareness is critical because those who are aware are more likely to get the help they need.
"Many are trapped in dangerous situations with an abuser or left with mountains of debt, homeless and experiencing this form of coercive control long after the relationship has ended."
Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said:
"No woman should ever be trapped in an abusive relationship because of the suffering they will face if they try to leave, whether that is the threat of physical violence or the prospect of being plunged into poverty and homelessness.
"Tackling economic abuse - a true hidden crime - will be integral to achieving our ambition of halving violence against women and girls in a decade."
The charity said "systemic change" must be driven across the public and private sectors, turning good practice into common practice, to transform the lives of victim-survivors.