Hampshire seeing "considerable" increase in economic abuse
A Hampshire charity is calling for more awareness of economic abuse
Hampshire is seeing a "considerable" increase in economic abuse according to a Hampshire charity who support survivors.
It comes as new research from Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) says one in seven women have 'had their finances controlled in recent months'.
Stop Domestic Abuse support survivors in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, and say they've seen an increase from 47/48% (2022/2023 to 2024/2025) to 57% (2025) of people using their community services who were also experiencing economic abuse.
Rachel Windebank, Operations Manager and Deputy CEO of Stop Domestic Abuse, said: "It is a considerable increase and I think that is potentially exacerbated by cost of living crisis, but also due to more awareness around what economic abuse is and what it looks like.
"I actually think that reports like this are absolutely integral to victim survivors getting the support they need to meet their needs.
"Historically, economic abuse has almost been hidden in plain sight because they can be so subtle and manipulative and be mistaken as a relationship dynamic rather than the abusive behaviour that it is."
The report by SEA found two fifths of economic abuse victims didn't speak to anyone about what they were going through.
Economic abuse takes many forms - including a current or ex-partner restricting access to money or bank accounts, damaging property or possessions, taking out loans or building up debt in a victim-survivor's name, SEA said.
The report indicated women from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled women and younger women aged 18 to 24 were particularly likely to say they had experienced at least one form of economic abuse.
Ms Windebank added: "I think raising awareness and it becoming more in the light is really positive because it validates the victim's experience of economic abuse.
"It is harrowing and really upsetting that we're living in a society where domestic abuse in all its forms is still so prevalent.
"I think that shining a light on ways in which domestic abuse can be used that have been misunderstood or minimised previously is really beneficial to victim survivors recovery.
"The thing I would say to all victim survivors is to reach out.
"The abuse is never your fault, you aren't alone, and there are people and organisations that exist to support you.
"If you are worried about a family member or a friend, ask them the right questions and try to make it your business to understand domestic abuse.
"Don't fall into that trap of thinking 'why don't they just leave if they're not happy?
"It's not that easy.
"Domestic abuse is complex and victims are allowed to have conflicted thoughts and emotions."