This report presents the findings of the first research project to investigate Polish women’s
experiences of domestic violence and abuse, and service responses to Polish women in the UK.
It seeks to understand why domestic abuse services receive few referrals from Polish women
despite the Polish community constituting the second largest foreign-born group in the UK with
over 700,000 residents. Migration is well-known to exacerbate the risk of domestic abuse and
increase barriers to accessing support


Iwona Zielinska, EDAN Lincs and The Maria Grzegorzewska University

Sundari Anitha, University of Lincoln, School of Social and Political Sciences

Michael Rasell, University of Innsbruck

Ros Kane, University of Lincoln, School of Health and Social Care