In the year ending March 2023, an estimated 2.1 million people aged 16 and over in England and Wales suffered some form of domestic abuse – and police recorded nearly 1.5 million domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes, according to statistics published by Safe Lives.

It confirms a worrying trend: that incident rates have risen over the past decade.

Now, a special hour-long Disclosure documentary is set to highlight how almost 90% of women who experience abuse don’t report it and those who do find themselves part of a system under serious strain.

Using a mix of home footage and candid testimony, the BBC documentary follows seven women as they try to escape violence and seek justice against their abusers.

In doing so, it offers them the chance to tell their stories of surviving domestic abuse in their own words. And, just as importantly, it questions whether or not the justice system is really set up to help domestic abuse survivors.

“I think it’s really, really easy to say ‘Why doesn’t she just leave?’” says Dr Marsha Scott, chief executive at Scottish Women’s Aid.

“[But] women don’t stay in abusive relationships because they like them. They stay in abusive relationships because we’ve made it so difficult for them to leave.”

One of the women who appears in the documentary is poet Len Pennie, who was propelled to fame during lockdown thanks to her ‘Scots Word of the Day’ social media videos.

Away from the cameras, however, she was battling a private war of violence and stalking, waged by an ex-partner.

“There are people out there who will believe you and will listen to you and will fight for you,” she tells BBC Scotland.

“There are external agencies who truly do fill in the gaps, and they truly do provide the support that you need because you can’t do this alone.

“You can’t fight this on your own. You should speak out if it happens because it happens too much and it needs to change.”

Disclosure: Surviving Domestic Abuse will air at 9pm on Monday 11 March via BBC One.

In the UK, the domestic violence helpline is 0808 2000 247. Alternatively, contact Women’s Aid, Solace or Refuge for advice and support.

The BBC’s Surviving Domestic Abuse is here to ask some vital questions