"Around the world, at least one in three women has been beaten, forced to have sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Very often the abuser is a member of his own family family." (C,J Newton, 2011) Domestic violence and abuse can be defined as threatening or controlling behavior and violence by individuals over the age of 16 who have been or are an intimate partner or family member. Abuse can consist of: psychological, emotional, sexual, financial and physical. (GOV.UK, 2013). The main themes of this topic are the political and social attitudes of the topic and how trends in domestic violence and abuse persuade communities and individuals to feel the issue; also how different places and situations impact how and why domestic violence and abuse occurs. Why men feel they cannot report their cases of domestic violence and abuse to the police, how this type of crime is measured, and the historical and cultural relativity to domestic violence and abuse. Other topics will include economics and views of the criminal justice system. Any changes to the definitions do not always mean that there will be a change in the law. Domestic violence has no legal definition and is constantly evolving. The definition changed in 2011: "This follows the Government's successful campaign on abuse in teenage relationships... which found that young people aged 16 to 19 were the group most likely to suffer abuse from part of a partner." (GOV.UK, 2011) “There is a domestic violence law introduced in 1976 which allows women to obtain a court order against their violent partner or husband” (Domestic Violence 1970-1979, undated). In recent years the number of women and men prosecuted for domestic violence and abuse...... half of the document...... NovemberGOV.UK (2013) Domestic violence and abuse. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/domestic-violence-and-abuse (Accessed: 10 November 2013)GOV.UK (2011) New definition of domestic violence Available at: https://www.gov.uk /government/news/new-definition-of-domestic-violence (accessed 18 November 2013) McLeod, S (2011) Bandura - Social Learning Theory Available at: http://www.simplypsychology.org/ bandura.html (accessed 15 November 2013) Review of domestic violence policies in England and Wales (2011) Available at: eprints.kingston.ac.uk/18868/1/Matczak-A-18868.pdf (accessed on November 14, 2013) The Economy's Impact on Domestic Violence (2010) Available at: http://nnedv.org/downloads/Stats/NNEDV_DVandEconomy.pdf (accessed November 11, 2013) WiseGEEK (undated) . Available at: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-felony-domestic-violence.htm (accessed November 14 2013)