UK Declares Violence Against Women and Girls a “National Emergency,” Announces Sweeping New Strategy
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The UK government has officially declared violence against women and girls a “national emergency,” unveiling a long-awaited strategy aimed at halving incidents within the next decade. The plan, announced by the Home Secretary, focuses on prevention, protection, and prosecution, backed by increased funding for online undercover units and expanded domestic abuse protection orders.
Acknowledging systemic Failure
The proclamation comes after years of criticism regarding the handling of sexual offences and domestic abuse cases. A senior official stated that during her time in government, she reached “the depressing conclusion” that “the criminal justice system fails women.” This sentiment was echoed in concerns raised about inconsistencies in how police forces investigate such crimes, described as being “too much of a postcode lottery.”
Specialist Teams and Enhanced Training
The core of the strategy involves creating dedicated teams within every police force equipped with officers possessing specialized investigation skills. These teams will receive targeted training designed to foster a deeper understanding of both the behaviors of abusers and the experiences of victims. While over 50% of police forces already have such teams in place,the government is committed to worldwide implementation by 2029.
Replicating success: The V100 program
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has welcomed the initiative, noting the government intends to replicate tactics employed by the Met’s existing V100 programme. This programme utilizes data analysis to identify and focus resources on men posing the highest risk to women. “We built an entirely new system focused on pursuing and prosecuting men who commit violence and I am pleased the government is now asking all forces to have the same principle,” Sir Mark stated, emphasizing a commitment to applying the same “relentless determination” used in counter-terrorism efforts to combat violence against women and girls.
Empowering Victims with Protection Orders
A key component of the strategy is the nationwide rollout of domestic abuse protection orders. These orders, previously trialed, can prohibit individuals from contacting victims, entering their homes, or posting harmful content online, extending to cases involving coercive control. Importantly, enforcement of these orders will fall to the police, relieving victims of the burden of pursuing legal action independently. Early pilot data indicates a “very, very positive” impact, with a notable number of arrests for breaches of the orders.
Targeting Online Harassment and Expanding Clare’s Law
The government will invest nearly £2 million in undercover police units dedicated to tackling online harassment targeting women and girls. Moreover, officials are considering expanding Clare’s Law – established in memory of Clare Wood, murdered by a former partner with a history of violence – to include offenses such as stalking, sexual assault, and harassment. Currently, the law allows individuals to request facts from the police regarding a partner’s or ex-partner’s history of domestic abuse.
Addressing Systemic shortcomings and Calls for Action
The strategy’s launch follows a report revealing that over a quarter of police forces in England and Wales lack basic policies for investigating sexual offenses. The report highlighted the widespread nature of sexually-motivated crimes in public spaces and criticized the limited data available on these incidents, calling for urgent action.
The publishing of this strategy has faced repeated delays, initially anticipated in the spring. Concerns over these delays were recently voiced by chairs of three Commons select committees. Domestic abuse survivors have expressed a growing impatience, stating that the time for discussion has passed and swift implementation is crucial.
Criticism and Concerns Over funding
Despite the announcement, the strategy has faced criticism. A shadow home secretary described the plan as “too little, too late,” expressing disappointment at the length of time taken to develop the strategy and the relatively small amount of funding allocated. He attributed the ongoing challenges to the inherent “slow and bureaucratic” nature of the criminal justice system, compounded by changes to evidence disclosure procedures introduced after a 2017 prosecution collapse.
