PCC backs calls for VAWG to be treated as 'national emergency'
23.07.24 - Merseyside
Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner has backed calls for Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) to be treated as a 'national emergency'.
Emily Spurrell has welcomed the National Policing Statement for VAWG, commissioned by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing (CoP), which sets out the scale of the issue and the need for urgent action.
The report found:
- More than one million VAWG related crimes were recorded during 2022/23, accounting for 20 per cent of all police recorded crime.
- Police recorded VAWG related crime increased by 37 per cent between 2018/23.
- At least one in every 12 women will be a victim per year, with the exact number expected to be much higher.
- Child sexual abuse and exploitation increased by more than 400 per cent between 2013 and 2022.
Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “I welcome this statement from the NPCC which sets out in unequivocal terms the scale of violence and abuse facing women in our society.
“It is intolerable that at least one in 12 women is a victim of VAWG each year and that acts of violence against women account for 20% of all crimes recorded by police nationally.
“These numbers far outweigh those affected by Serious Organised Crime and they continue to grow. As the NPCC rightly sets out, this is a national emergency and it needs to be treated equally seriously, with a comparable level of attention and investment if we are to tackle it.
“Lots of organisations, including Merseyside Police supported by our partners, have made progress in improving their response to these crimes and put additional support in place for the women affected.
“But we know there is still more policing can do. Far too many women still do not have confidence in the police response or get the outcome they deserve when they do report.
“The priorities set out in this statement will help drive this work forward. They align with the actions set out in the VAWG delivery plan I launched in 2022 and I will continue to scrutinise and challenge the police and our partners to ensure they are making progress for the benefit of women across our region.
“If we are to change things for the better, there needs to be whole system change if we are to tackle the root causes of male violence and stop it from happening in the first place.
“The police cannot do this work on their own. Change will only happen if organisations across all sectors unite to drive a radical new approach.
“Education must be at the heart of this work if we are to change mindsets and prevent violence of the future and that’s why through our Safer Streets Merseyside campaign we were focused on engaging with the next generation.
“Crucially, if any national strategy is to make a genuine difference, it must be backed up by sustained, appropriate funding so all the agencies are able to respond effectively, and work to prevent violence in the first place.
“The issue of VAWG is deep-rooted, embedded, and vast, but there is a collective will to change things for the better and a genuine commitment from our new government. Violence against women and girls is preventable and I am determined to work with our partners regionally to take action to make our communities safer places for all women and girls.”
Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, Deputy CEO of the College of Policing and NPCC lead for violence against women and girls, said: “We are absolutely determined to turn the tide on violence and abuse faced by women and girls and will continue to work tirelessly to do better for victims.
“Our focus will always be to bring the men behind these pervasive crimes to justice. By enhancing the way we use data and intelligence, we will improve our ability to identify, intercept and arrest those causing the most harm in communities.
“We know that continuous improvement is needed to strengthen policing’s response to VAWG. Improvements must be driven nationally, ensuring consistency from force to force to give victims the service they expect and deserve.”