Adults underestimate risk of abuse posed to women by ex-partners, UK data shows

A Refuge spokesperson said ex-partners often used children and the family court to control women. Photograph: Islandstock/Alamy

The risk posed to women by ex-partners in cases of abuse is underestimated by large swathes of the British public, according to the charity Refuge.

Data from the charity’s helpline found that 42% of people who call Refuge for help identify a former partner as their abuser, a statistic which underlines how common it is for an ex to be a cause of harm after a relationship has ended.