Police Report Sounds Alarm on Violence Against Women: A National Crisis
Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner, and Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth have dropped a bombshell report painting violence against women and girls (VAWG) as a crisis equal to terrorism. Released by the National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing, the findings reveal a grim reality — over one million VAWG crimes last year, making up 20% of all recorded offences.
Shocking Stats Expose Scale of Violence
- One in 12 women will suffer violence.
- One in six murders are linked to domestic abuse.
- One in 20 people will commit violence against women and girls in their lifetime.
“We must act now to change the brutal reality for women and girls,” said Sir Rowley. “Policing will play its part, but society as a whole must respond.”
New Strategy Inspired by Counter-Terror Plans
The report unveils a bold “four Ps” approach: Protect, Pursue, Prevent, and Prepare. Police training is being overhauled. Victims get better support to encourage reporting. New investigative tactics have already boosted rape arrests by 25% and charges by 38%.
London is trailblazing with data-led targeting of the worst offenders and rolling out live facial recognition tech to hunt sex predators. Early results are promising.
Calls for a Nation-Wide, Multi-Sector Response
The report demands action beyond policing, urging social services, healthcare, education, and tech firms to step up. From teaching healthy relationships early on to tightening online safeguards, every sector must contribute.
“Halving violence against women and girls in the next decade won’t happen without a united effort,” said Deputy Chief Constable Blyth. “Policing can’t do this alone.”
This damning report is a wake-up call — tackling violence against women requires an all-out national push to make Britain safer for women and girls everywhere.
