An 'epidemic' of violence against women and girls threatens the nation.

Demi Caddy, 03^rd October 2024

Staggering rates of violence against women and girls (VAWG) mean it’s now being considered a ‘national emergency’ in the UK, say police. The data suggests a 37% increase in crimes related to VAWG when comparing 2018 to 2023. With it accounting for around 20% of all recorded crimes. Now considered a national threat, the police response aligns with counter-terrorism. But, police say a whole system approach is necessary for tackling the issue.

The police are calling for a whole system approach after recent data points to epidemic levels of violence against women and girls in the UK. In just 2022/23 there were over 1 million VAWG crimes recorded. This means that around 1 in 5 recorded crimes were related to VAWG. Domestic abuse continues to be one of the biggest demands on the police, with around 1 in 4 women experiencing some form of DA in their lifetime. And, estimates suggest that at least 1 in 20 people are perpetrators of VAWG every year.

In 2023 the Conservative government designated VAWG a ‘national threat’ to the public, allowing it to be treated with the seriousness of crimes such as terrorism. Since Labour have taken over, they appear to share the same sentiment, promising to ‘’halve violence against women and girls’’ in the next decade. Since it has been deemed a national threat, the police response is said to be in line with counter-terrorism procedures. This includes the tried and tested ‘4p approach’, which stands for:

• Prepare: Provide proper skills and resources.
• Protect: Take action to protect individuals, families and communities.
• Pursue: Ensure perpetrators are relentlessly pursued.
• Prevent: Police must work with others for a whole system approach.

Despite significant changes being made in the way police tackle VAWG they say a whole system approach is needed to fully tackle the issue. Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blynth said ‘’We aspire to a position where an effective criminal justice response VAWG is the last resort. We need to move forward as a society to make change and no longer accept VAWG as inevitable’’. Pointing to the importance of reaching the younger generation before they become perpetrators.

The rise in VAWG-related crimes may be attributed to greater public awareness and an increased number of victims filing reports. It showcases the weaknesses in the systems and the need for significant change across the whole of society. In response to the figures, the NPCC has announced plans to create a central hub which will provide police with the specialist knowledge and training required to ensure they’re handling cases appropriately. While the government have pledged to increase funding for VAWG services and ensure that resources available support the growing demand. Yet, more effective resources still require victims to feel comfortable enough to report their experience and are likely to be ineffective in preventing VAWG.

Instead identifying and connecting with potential perpetrators before they commit VAWG may hold the key to reducing instances of VAWG. As well as greater awareness on the potential red flags and better understanding when it comes to the contributing factors such as misogyny and gender-based stereotypes.

One thing is for sure, with a woman losing her life to male violence every 3 days in the UK, more has got to be done to deal with the epidemic of VAWG.

If you or anyone you know is a victim of VAWG, know you are not alone and there are resources available to help you.

• National Domestic Violence Helpline: Available 24/7 at 0808 2000 247.