"Rural victims and perpetrators are being failed and left at risk. My aim is to ensure that something positive comes from this dark, and near fatal, experience."
Survivors of rural domestic abuse have challenged authorities not to underestimate and overlook a crime which often is unseen, unreported and one which can have devastating ramifications for victims, families and communities.
Women's Aid has defined domestic abuse as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner, but also by a family member or carer.
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It can include coercive control, harassment and stalking as well as abuse which is not limited to physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual.
Independent charity Crimestoppers said adults and children experience a wide range of abuse which often goes unreported, particularly in rural areas, with one in four women and one in six men affected at some point during their lifetime.
Domestic abuse
Children who are living in households are the unseen victims, according to the charity, who carry the trauma of events throughout their lives.
The National Audit Offices' Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls report in 2025 revealed that the economic and social costs of domestic abuse in England and Wales alone was estimated to be approximately £84 billion during 2024-25.
In July 2019, the National Rural Crime Network (NRCU) revealed an alarming picture – the truth behind domestic abuse in rural Britain, with hidden victims being found to be ‘isolated, unsupported and unprotected.'
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Rural Action Derbyshire chief executive Emma Simpson said domestic abuse can last 25% longer in most rural areas due to victims facing ‘greater isolation' and support services ‘remain scarce, less available and less effective'.
Domestic abuse in rural areas
"The more rural the setting, the higher the risk of harm," Ms Simpson added.
"Retreating rural resources makes help and escape harder.
"Rurality and isolation are deliberately used as weapons by abusers."
And seven years later from NRCU's report, the issue is still as pertinent as ever.
Surviving rural domestic abuse
Rhianon Bragg, a smallholder from Gwynedd, and her four children are survivors of domestic abuse, stalking and gun crime.
Ms Bragg said she was subjected to verbal and physical abuse for five years - ranging from violence, manipulation, psychological torture, isolation and coercive control - from her then partner Gareth Wyn Jones, who was from Rhosgadfan near Caernarfon.
Ms Bragg tried to end her relationship with Wyn Jones in April 2019 after years of abuse, but he refused to accept it.
Instead, he began a campaign of stalking; demonstrating threatening and obsessive behaviour towards Ms Bragg and her children.
After reporting Wyn Jones to the police, she was told to collect more evidence because the Crown Prosecution Service had decided no further action should be taken.
Ms Bragg had installed CCTV in her home which proved to be decisive.
Manipulation
On August 15 2019, video footage had captured the moment when Wyn Jones held Ms Bragg hostage at gunpoint for eight hours; repeatedly threatening to kill her and leave her four children motherless.
"A number of times, I did not think I would see my children again," she added.
"I was in a situation of do or die."
Ms Bragg had managed to convince Wyn Jones to let her attend a GP appointment the next morning.
She told the doctor what had happened and the surgery was put into lockdown.
Officers were called and Wyn Jones was arrested in the car park.
In February 2020, he admitted stalking, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, false imprisonment and making a threat to kill at court.
He was sentenced to four and half years in custody, but was released in February 2024.
Ms Bragg had attempted to extend the scope of Wyn Jones' restraining order in the courts from within 800 metres of her home to cover the whole of Gwynedd, which was turned down.
Her anxiety only increased at the thought he would come back into her life again.
However, when Mr Wyn Jones died in 2025, Ms Bragg said she felt enormous relief for the first time in her life.
She now works to raise awareness of domestic abuse and campaigns for change to highlight gaps in safeguarding, as well as standing up for victims and survivors of domestic abuse in rural areas.
"Domestic abuse, coercive control and stalking are devastating, often fatal and horrifically common in every age group and every sector of society," she added.
"You will know someone who is suffering domestic abuse or stalking. Geography, topography and variety does not prevent it. In fact, it tends to exacerbate it.
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"Rural victims and perpetrators are being failed and left at risk. My aim is to ensure that something positive comes from this dark, and near fatal, experience.
"This is about working together to find solutions to prevent others from experiencing what I and my children did."
Rural Initiatives Tackling Rural Abuse's (RITA) founder and managing director Judith Vickers said she set up the charity to focus on enhancing the visibility and status of abuse victims and survivors in rural UK.
Ms Vickers has over 25 years of experience in the domestic abuse and sexual violence fields, but she feels there is a lot more work to tackle a huge problem in rural settings.
Prevalence of rural domestic abuse
"Rural domestic abuse is one of the most prolific crimes committed in the countryside but due to its nature and the setting, is often hidden," she added.
"It is much harder for people to reach out and it is easier for abusers to exert power and control in rural communities.
"Victims are scared of losing their identity if they [try to] break away from a domestic abuse relationship because they feel tied to the community. They feel they cannot leave."
However, she feels education can be an important tool to turn the tide on the issue being reported and tackled by the criminal justice system in the future.
"We need a whole system approach to involve community agencies which work collaboratively to respond to domestic abuse and other crimes," Ms Vickers added.
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"Domestic abuse is preventable. We need to go back upstream to build emotional intelligence in young people because domestic abuse is ruining lives.
"Collective views can change the world for the greater good. Courage also takes the ability for people to stand up and listen."
Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the Government has made an unprecedented commitment to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.
Safeguarding Secretary Jess Phillips the Home Office has invested £6 million into specialist helplines to support victims in their greatest time of need.
Ms Phillips added: "For England, the Safe Accommodation Duty for victims of domestic abuse, and the upcoming Duty to Collaborate for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and serious violence, will ensure local areas are able to tailor their provision to their local community and duty holders should consider the needs of rural victims as part of this.
Last year, Defra had commenced a call for evidence across a network of rural stakeholders to inform understanding of the availability of support services and delivery methodologies which will help to confront the disparities in the provision of support so that every victim, whether in a city or a rural village, can access the help they need.
Helpline numbers
The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night.
Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm), email [email protected] (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm), or visit the webchat at Men's Advice Line (Wednesday 10am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4pm) for non-judgemental information and support.
ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm).
Galop on 0800 999 5428 or email [email protected] for emotional and practical support
Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes. You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV.UK Forced Marriage Unit. In an emergency, call 999.
Respect Phoneline on 0808 802 4040.
The Survivor's Handbook from the charity Women's Aid is free and provides information for women on a wide range of issues, such as housing, money, helping your children, and your legal rights. Email [email protected]. Staff will respond to your email within five working days.
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