Report Summary
A Public Briefing on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Published in February 2024.
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VAWG in England and Wales
The UK Government published the Violence against women and girls national statement of expectations in March 2022, seeking strategies and services which are victim / survivor centric, focus on perpetrators, acknowledge the system wide response required, are locally led, and work with communities to design and
deliver solutions.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing published an outcomes and performance framework in April 2022 which underpins this statement of expectations.
In 2015, the Welsh Government introduced the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Act, which aims to improve the prevention of gender-based violence and the protection and support for those affected by such violence.
Inspection
In 2021 His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) produced a final inspection report into the effectiveness of the police response to VAWG across England and Wales.
The report concluded that considerable cross-system change (including healthcare and education, in addition to policing) is urgently needed to tackle VAWG. HMICFRS suggested that the UK Government consider legislation for a new statutory duty, similar to the existing framework for child protection, for all partners to work together to protect women and girls. Areas of particular concern to HMICFRS with regards to the police response were the number of cases closed without charge, and gaps in VAWG data.
