It's ok to slap wife, girlfriend: Brit adults

London, Mar 9: One in five British adults reckon it is all right if a man physically abuses his wife or girlfriend, a new survey has revealed.

According to them, it is acceptable if she merely wears 'sexy clothes' in public.

The survey found 14 per cent reckon blokes are justified in lashing out if a partner is 'nagging or moaning'.

And 10 per cent believe it is ok for them to hit a lover who flirts with another man.

The figures has emerged in a Govt survey on domestic violence - which quizzed both men and women.

They figures have revealed that 50 percent of the public think a woman is at least partly at fault for being raped if she does not clearly say 'no'.

A third believe she is partly responsible if she is drunk and a quarter think she should take some of the blame if she wears sexy clothing.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was 'shocked' to see the findings, according to the officials.