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A new survey commissioned by the domestic abuse charity Refuge suggests many people in the UK underestimate the risks women face in their own homes, despite widespread recognition that domestic abuse is a serious problem.
The polling, conducted by YouGov, found that 57% of UK adults acknowledge that the home is the place where women are most at risk of abuse. However, the research also found that 85% of respondents believe most people feel safe in their own homes, highlighting what campaigners describe as a significant gap between perception and reality.
Women were more likely than men to identify the home as the most dangerous setting for abuse, with 62% of women recognising this risk compared with 52% of men. Nevertheless, misconceptions remain. When asked where women are most commonly abused, 14% of respondents cited outdoor public spaces such as parks, 10% said the street, 5% pointed to public transport, 4% the workplace and 10% said they did not know.
Refuge said these findings reflect a persistent belief that the greatest danger comes from strangers in public places, while the risks posed by partners or family members within the home are often underestimated.
Official figures highlight the seriousness of the issue. In the year ending March 2025, 75 women in England and Wales were killed by a current or former partner or family member: the most extreme outcome of domestic abuse.
The survey also explored awareness of technology-facilitated abuse within the home. Four in 10 respondents (42%) said they had heard nothing about the ways perpetrators can use technology such as smart home devices to monitor, manipulate or control victims. Only 6% said they knew a lot about the issue.
According to Refuge, referrals to its Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment team increased by 62% in the first nine months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. The charity said many cases involve concerns about hidden microphones or cameras placed within the home.
The findings form part of the charity’s new public awareness campaign, Home is Where the Hurt Is. The campaign includes a short film designed to resemble the popular “house tour” format often used by estate agent influencers, gradually revealing subtle signs of domestic abuse within the property.
Refuge said the video attracted more than 2,500 views on YouTube within 24 hours of release and tens of thousands of additional views across social media platforms. The campaign has also been promoted through outdoor advertising across the UK, including billboards and displays in shopping centres.
As part of the initiative, Tower 42 in London is scheduled to be illuminated with the charity’s logo on the eve of International Women’s Day, while campaigners plan to take the message to the Houses of Parliament to call for increased funding for domestic abuse services.
Gemma Sherrington, chief executive of Refuge, said the findings demonstrate how assumptions about safety in the home can obscure the reality that many women face abuse from those closest to them. She added that the campaign aims to raise awareness of these hidden harms and highlight what the charity says is a £55.5 million annual funding shortfall for safe accommodation and refuge services.
Sharon Gaffka, a Refuge ambassador, said she hopes the campaign will encourage people to recognise warning signs of abuse in their communities and empower more women to seek support.
