Radical cross-sector reform to protect women and girls from
violent offences is needed immediately, an interim report has
found.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue
Services (HMICFRS) said the police have made vast improvements
over the last decade in how they respond to these crimes – but
while this progress should continue, fundamental system-wide
change is needed, and the police cannot achieve this alone.
HMICFRS said there is an epidemic of offending against women and
girls – for example, an estimated 1.6 million women in England
and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the 12 months to March
2020 – and a whole-system approach is needed to tackle it,
involving not only the police but also other partners such as the
Crown Prosecution Service, health, social care and education.
The inspectorate’s findings are from its interim report, released
now to help inform the Government’s violence against women and
girls strategy, with its final report to be published in
September.
HMICFRS reviewed evidence from previous inspections, consulted
with experts from policing, government and victim support
organisations, and analysed the progress made by the police.
After reviewing the evidence, the inspectorate has recommended
that transformation of the whole system is needed, including:
- the Government, police, criminal justice system and public
sector should immediately and unequivocally commit to
prioritising the response to violence against women and girls,
supported by sufficient funding and mandated responsibilities;
- the police should make the relentless pursuit and disruption
of perpetrators a national priority, and their capability and
capacity to do this should be enhanced; and
- funding and structures should be put in place to ensure
victims receive tailored and consistent support.
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham
said:
“We are living during a national epidemic of violence against
women and girls. The prevalence and range of offending and harm
is stark and shocking. We are clear that the police have made
great progress over the last decade against a backdrop of greater
demand, and we want forces to maintain this momentum and build on
these improvements. But there is still evidence of inconsistent
support for victims and low prosecution rates.
“Offending against women and girls is deep-rooted and pervasive
in our society. Urgent action is needed to uproot and address
this and police cannot solve this alone. There must be a seamless
approach to preventing and tackling violence against women and
girls across the whole system, including education, local
authorities, health, social care and those from across the
criminal justice system – with all agencies working together.
“A radical and immediate change in approach is needed, supported
by sustained funding and mandated responsibilities, potentially
through a new statutory framework. We need to end violence
against women and girls by preventing it, supporting victims, and
bringing perpetrators to justice with the full force of police
powers and the law.
“I am grateful to the Home Secretary for commissioning this
inspection, and we will publish our final report in September.”
Notes to editors:
-
Interim report: Inspection into how effectively the police
engage with women and girls can be found on the HMICFRS website.
