Domestic and sexual violence dashboard glossary of terms

Domestic violence and abuse
Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to, a combination of psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. This definition also includes so-called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage.

Domestic abuse incident - Police incident data on domestic abuse cover reports of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults, aged 16 and over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members (regardless of gender or sexuality). These domestic abuse-related incidents data cover reports where, after initial investigation, the police have concluded that no notifiable crime was committed.

Domestic abuse offence - Incidents of domestic abuse that did result in a crime being recorded by the police. Offences that are domestic abuse-related will be recorded under the respective offence that has been committed, for example, assault with injury. This is because domestic abuse is not a specific criminal offence. Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR) which are applied across the categories of recorded crime are available here.

Sexual Violence
A sexual act conducted with someone else without their consent. Sexual offences recorded by the police are grouped into two main categories – rape and other sexual offences. Home Office Counting Rules (HOCR) which are applied across the category of sexual offences are available here.

Rape - Rape is when a person intentionally penetrates another's vagina, anus or mouth with a penis, without the other person's consent.

Other Sexual Offences - A broad category of sexual offences including sexual assault, sexual exploitation of children, exposure and voyeurism, and other sexual offences.