Are we systematically undercounting violence against women? New research from Lancaster University and Royal Holloway, University of London suggests the answer is a resounding yes. A study led by Professor Sylvia Walby reveals that official statistics may underestimate violence against women by up to 39%. For domestic violence specifically, that reaches 59%. Why the discrepancy? The current Office for National Statistics (ONS) capping system limits how many times repeated offences against the same victim are recorded. Because domestic violence is disproportionately frequent and repeated, this cap effectively masks the true scale of the crisis. Why this matters: Data drives funding. It dictates which services are resourced and which interventions are commissioned. When the data is fundamentally flawed, the support systems meant to protect women are built on a hollow foundation. We cannot fix what we can't measure. Read the full study in the British Journal of Criminology. Li...