Home 5 Latest News 5 Violence Against Women and Girls National Policing Statement 2024

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing (CoP) published their Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) National Policing Statement 2024 on 23 July 2024.

Read the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) National Policing Statement 2024

The statement sets out the scale and threat of VAWG, finding that:

  • Over one million VAWG related crimes were recorded during 2022/23, accounting for 20% of all police recorded crime.
  • Police recorded VAWG related crime increased by 37% between 2018/23.
  • At least 1 in every 12 women will be a victim per year, with the exact number expected to be much higher.
  • 1 in every 6 murders related to domestic abuse in 22/23, with suspected victim suicides following domestic abuse rising year-on-year.
  • Child sexual abuse and exploitation increased by more than 400% between 2013 and 2022.

The statement caveats that all types of VAWG are likely to be underestimated significantly and recognises that the figures represent the minimum volume of estimated VAWG offences.

Jo Coles, York & North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime said:

“The statistics published in this statement are shocking but unfortunately unsurprising for those already working in this area.

 

“Tackling violence against women and girls was one of the new Government’s top priorities set out in the King’s speech last week, as well as a priority for the Mayor and I as we further develop the work already taking place across our region to keep people in our communities safe.

 

“This report from the NPCC is welcome as it sets out the scale of the problem and some of the actions police forces can take.

 

“But this is not a problem that can be solved just through policing alone. Tackling violence against women and girls is everyone’s business and it is welcome to see the progress we are making with our joint strategy to address violence against women and girls here in York and North Yorkshire. But there’s a long way still to go.

 

“Too many cases of violence against women and girls are still not reported and I would encourage any and all victims to report incidents to the police so that their cases are recorded and specialist, independent support can be provided.

 

“Anyone who has experienced any type of violence or abuse should contact our Supporting Victims team in confidence on 01609 643 100 or via the website www.supportingvictims.org .”

Some of the work already undertaken in York and North Yorkshire to address violence against women and girls includes:

  • Constantly learning from the experience of victims to ensure their voices remain central to everything we do.
  • Ensuring women in rural and other isolated communities receive a dedicated service via a specially converted campervan known as ‘Liberty Links’– further funding has recently been secured to purchase a second campervan to reach more women and to offer detached youth work to girls at risk of exploitation in more urban areas.
  • Created Just a kiss film series to raise awareness of stalking amongst teenagers and young adults.
  • Providing specialist training for police officers including:
    • Over 40 Response Police Officers trained to be ‘Sexual Offence Liaison Officers’ to provide an enhanced service to victims of rape and other serious sexual offences.
    • So far, more than 60% of Police Officers have been trained as Domestic Abuse First Responders to better identify and respond to incidents domestic abuse, supported by a network of 84 Domestic Abuse Matters Champions.
    • Around 3,000 front line workers, including police officers, have attended training webinars on safeguarding those from black & minoritised communities.
  • Safeguarding those involved in sex work, survival sex or at risk of sexual exploitation or County Lines.
  • Commissioning of specialist services to improve the experiences of those going through the Civil and Family Courts.
  • Enhancing Support Services for Victims.
  • Increasing the availability of interventions for perpetrators of VAWG offences that focus on both enforcement and rehabilitation.
  • Increasing the availability of interventions for those with Dual Status and those with Multiple Unmet Need.

 

The statement goes on to say that Policing have identified 5 high harm and high-volume threat areas which they will focus on over the next year:

  • Rape And Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO).
  • Domestic Abuse (DA).
  • Stalking and harassment
  • Online and tech-enabled VAWG.
  • Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE).

They will do this through the methodology of the ‘4P’ approach through which the UK’s counter terrorism strategy has been delivered, set out in the National Framework for Delivery: 2024 – 2027 (NFD):

  • Prepare: forces must have the right culture, skills and resources.
  • Protect: action is being taken to protect individuals, families and communities.
  • Pursue: perpetrators of violence are being relentlessly pursued.
  • Prevent: policing must work with partners as part of a whole-system approach.

The CoP and NPCC will establish a National Centre for Public Protection (NC4PP) to support and improve forces response and to create a foundation within which to bring policing and external partners together.

The statement calls for a whole system approach to addressing VAWG, highlighting that the continued increase and scale of VAWG requires a significant shift in national policy with focus applied to prevention as well as to the enforcement of perpetrators and support to victims. We would welcome an approach that brings together criminal justice partners, wider public, VCS and private sector agencies, in a new partnership that seeks to reduce the scale and impact of VAWG.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) published a supporting statement in response to this publication: The APCC welcomes national policing statement on violence against women and girls

The APCC, through the Victims Portfolio, will discuss the commitments with the NPCC, and ensure Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Deputy Mayors with responsibility for Policing and Crime are involved in the delivery both nationally and locally, through the NFD. Commissioners may wish to raise the statement and commitments with the Chief Constables and ask them about actions they will be taking as a result.

Find out about the work we’re doing in York and North Yorkshire to address violence against women and girls:

 

Published on Thursday 25 July 2024