Domestic Abuse in Wirral: Lived Experiences Informing the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026–2029.

Domestic Abuse in Wirral: Lived Experiences Informing the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026–2029.

In 2026, the Qualitative Insight Team spoke to victims, professionals and those who cause harm to explore their lived experiences of domestic abuse and support services. The insights supported the development of Wirral’s Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026–2029. Participants reflected on the early stages of abuse, escalation of harm, barriers to help-seeking, effective support and opportunities for improvement. Participants emphasised the importance of improving awareness of the many forms of domestic abuse, early identification, consistent responses across services, greater accountability for those who cause harm, improved support for children and young people, and increased capacity and longevity of support.

Insights gathered: January 2026 - April 2026

Insights gathered by

Qualitative Insight Team, Public Health, Wirral Council

Aim

To inform Wirral’s Domestic Abuse Strategy, the research explored:

  • Experiences leading to abuse, including risk factors, relationship dynamics and escalation of harm.

  • Influences on disclosure and help-seeking.

  • Experiences of accessing or delivering support, including good practice and opportunities for improvement.

Target areas included: abuse during pregnancy, coercive control, family/criminal court, financial control, honour-based abuse, LGBTQ+ communities, male victims, mutual accusations, people seeking asylum and refugees, those who cause harm, and the impact on children and young people.

People engaged with

The research engaged 65 participants, including:

  • 41 victims of domestic abuse (25 women and 16 men).

  • Two people who had caused harm, who had completed a behaviour-change support programme.

  • 22 professionals from health, wellbeing, housing, social work, legal, maternity and behaviour-change services.

Participants ranged from their early 20s to late 70s and represented a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.

Methods

Insights were gathered through 12 one-to-one depth interviews, 11 focus groups and three informal conversations. The methods were selected to support different communication preferences and levels of confidence among participants.

Engagements were designed to be trauma-informed, with participants able to choose how they took part and what information they shared. Participants were recruited through trusted community partners, who helped to identify people from the project's target groups. The research also captured experiences beyond the original target groups, including: abuse among caregivers and in care settings, child-to-parent abuse, post-separation abuse, stalking and harassment, abuse through technology and social media, false allegations, parent alienation, physical and sexual abuse, and the experiences of people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties.

Thematic analysis was used to look for common themes. Comparing the views of victims, professionals and those who harm helped to highlight opportunities for change across the domestic abuse system.

Key insights

1) Experiences leading to domestic abuse

Family history of abuse, childhood trauma, unhealthy early intimate relationships, low self-esteem and harmful cultural norms were commonly seen as factors that increased vulnerability to abuse and shaped what felt ‘normal’. Participants described how relationships often began as positive and aspirational, with those who cause harm appearing charming and attentive. Tactics such as love bombing and creating dependency established trust and commitment before domestic abuse gradually emerged. Abuse often escalated over time and involved overlapping forms of harm. Post-separation, pregnancy and parenthood, and migration to the UK were identified as high-risk periods for escalated abuse.

 

2) Influences on disclosure and help seeking

Participants often came into contact with support at a crisis point, such as during a mental health crisis, following a suicide attempt, or when the impact of abuse on children became apparent. A temporary disruption to routine helped some victims disclose abuse, while others described a ‘light-switch’ moment where they recognised patterns of coercion. While some participants actively sought help, others were guided into support by family or professionals. Many participants delayed seeking help because they did not recognise their experiences as domestic abuse, were isolated, depended on the person causing harm financially or emotionally, feared retaliation, or wanted to protect their family. Concerns about losing children, housing insecurity, stigma, community pressures and honour-based threats discouraged disclosure. Some participants described not knowing that support was available, or that specialist support was lacking, particularly for male victims. Victims' confidence was reduced by negative experiences of services, victim-blaming, and responses from family and friends that minimised abuse or protected the person causing harm.

 

3) Effective support and good practice

Peer support groups were highly valued by victims for reducing isolation, building confidence and helping people better understand their experiences of domestic abuse. Those who cause harm valued one-to-one support tailored to their ‘triggers’, helping them recognise harmful behaviours and develop healthier ways of managing emotions and conflict. Participants preferred person-centred support tailored to their individual circumstances and needs, rather than standardised courses that felt like a ‘tick-box’ exercise. Participants valued professionals who recognised signs of abuse early, looked beyond presenting issues such as mental health difficulties or substance use, avoided assumptions and offered non-judgemental support. Professionals described good multi-agency working and wrap around support in Wirral, with support addressing wider needs, including housing, legal, health, wellbeing and family circumstances. Independent Domestic Violence Advocates were recognised for their role in coordinating support across services, while the increased frequency of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) was highlighted as a positive example of joined-up working.

 

4) Opportunities for improvement

  • Participants identified key opportunities to strengthen domestic abuse support across Wirral, including:

  • Increase public awareness of the full range of domestic abuse types, including less recognised forms of abuse such as coercive control, honour-based abuse, abuse towards men, and child-to-parent abuse.

  • Strengthen professional training and improve consistency of responses to domestic abuse, ensuring abuse is identified earlier, victims are listened to, and people receive fair and appropriate support.

  • Strengthen accountability, system-wide responsibility and support for those who cause harm, alongside appropriate responses to false allegations.

  • Provide clear, consistent guidance on when and how Claire’s Law can be accessed.

  • Improve access to safe and culturally appropriate refuge housing and suitable spaces for maintaining family contact.

  • Increase support for child and teenage victims of domestic abuse, focusing on early help to prevent generational cycles of harm.

  • Increase support and tailored therapy for adults who experienced domestic abuse in childhood.

  • Focus on post-separation as a key risk factor for escalated abuse.

  • Sustain good practice by securing longer-term funding.

Quotes

“No, I didn't even know there was really any support until I was going through the [suicide support charity] … I think I thought, well I’m not important because I haven’t got kids” (female victim).

“There are 24/7 helplines for women, but only business hours for men. You can’t be a male victim of domestic abuse at the weekend” (male victim).

How have the insights been used/shared?

The insights have been used to inform the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-2029, developed through the Wirral Domestic Abuse Alliance.

 

The strategy sets out five clear priorities:

  • Responding to those who harm, with stronger multi-agency action to reduce repeat abuse.

  • Supporting victims and survivors, ensuring access to timely, inclusive and tailored support.

  • Recognising children and young people as victims in their own right, with earlier intervention and support.

  • Making domestic abuse everyone’s business, improving awareness and confident responses across services.

  • Ensuring safe and stable housing, recognising the role housing plays in both safety and recovery.

 

The strategy and insights have been shared with local Committees, internal colleagues, partner organisations and strategic partnerships, including the Community Safety Partnership, to promote collective awareness and action in tackling domestic abuse across Wirral.

Online links

To see a more detailed summary of findings: Domestic Abuse: Lived experiences of domestic abuse and support in Wirral - May 2026

To see Wirral's Domestic Abuse Strategy: Domestic Abuse - Wirral Health and Wellbeing Knowledge Hub

The Domestic Abuse Hub is Wirral Borough Council’s domestic abuse support service. For more information or support, visit: https://itsneverokwirral.org/wirral-domestic-abuse-hub

Contact

Qualitativeinsightteam@wirral.gov.uk