IT isn’t the taboo subject it once was but many women are still suffering in silence.

According to a new survey by the national women’s charity Refuge, one in three women in Britain have suffered domestic violence and more than a third of the victims had kept it a secret from family and friends.

Refuge said the survey suggests more women than ever are recognising themselves as victims of the ‘horrific crime’.

But the poll also found 35 per cent of women would keep the abuse to themselves if they were to become a victim.

The YouGov poll, commissioned by the charity and ITV’s daily chat show Loose Women, defined domestic violence as an incident of threatening behaviour, violence or emotional abuse.

Refuge chief executive, Sandra Horley, CBE, says the real number of victims remains hard to determine.

“We don’t know the true extent of domestic violence because so many women don’t disclose their experiences to anyone. It’s a hidden problem. This survey shows that one woman in three have experienced domestic violence. This could indicate that more women are aware of the problem and are better able to recognise the signs of abuse.

“It is not surprising to me that this poll has shown that domestic violence affects huge numbers of women in this country. Refuge supports 3,000 women and children on any given day – demand on our services is relentless. Domestic violence is a huge social issue which affects everyone. We all have a role to play in ending this horrific crime.”

The survey showed that of the victims who had revealed the abuse nearly half (43 per cent) thought it was not serious enough to involve other people. A third thought it was a private matter and 14 per cent thought their partner’s behaviour was a normal part of being in a relationship.

Of all the women that took part in the survey, nearly one in four (23 per cent) said they would not know how to help a victim.

Adds Mrs Horley: “Domestic violence is not a private matter. It is a huge social issue that affects the whole of our society. We all have a role to play in ending this horrific crime – and we must start by speaking out about it.”

The poll of 2,244 women was carried out online between September 3 and 5. The data was weighted to represent all British women.

Yasmin Khan, director of the Bradford charity, Staying Put, which works with survivors of domestic abuse, says: “It is Staying Put’s view that as a VAW service (violence against women and children) we have known that often survivors of abuse try to cope with the situation as best as they can.

“It can take some survivors up to 35 incidences before they disclose abuse to anyone.

“This survey reaffirms what we already know, that the power and control dynamic – in particular coercive control, which National Women’s Aid is trying to criminalise – is a key factor to why women may keep it a secret.

“It would be helpful to have a longer study to see the full impact on survivors that do not access specialist VAW services, or could there be a barrier that there are not enough specialist services to support them and this would fit the finding by National Women’s Aid hence their most recent Save Our Refuges (SOS) campaign is trying to address this issue.

“I guess it goes back to the preventative model which we have adopted that raising awareness and not victim-blaming will help survivors to overcome some of the barriers to speaking out and seeking help.”

A spokesman for Keighley Domestic Violence Services says domestic violence is the most under-reported crime. “There are many women who suffer for quite a long time before they speak up.”

However, she says she believes it has gained a greater profile and more women are beginning to come forward. “I know that our referrals have increased year on year so more women are coming forward but, without a shadow of a doubt, there are women who avoid speaking out for fear of repercussions or still feel they are to blame in some way themselves and don’t want to disclose.

“I think what they are saying is right. It is a huge problem. More women are coming forward but we also know there are still women out there who will feel it hard to disclose. It is getting a greater profile than it has had historically so it is not as taboo but women still live in fear.”

For more information call Staying Put on 01274 667104; email enquiries@stayingput.uk.net or write to PO Box 449, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 2XB or call Domestic Violence Services Keighley on 01535 210999 or write to PO Box 79, Keighley, BD21 2UD.