Spotlight on Violence Against Women and Girls
This spotlight looks at how Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are tackling violence against women and girls. Most police and crime plans identify this as a key vulnerability and need, but only a third have made it a strategic priority. We share emerging good practice across the UK.
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) covers a range of serious crimes. These require robust, multi-agency approaches that recognise the underlying causes – specific gender inequalities, racial and ethnic discrimination and social exclusion. National and local strategies to tackle VAWG need to address patterns of abuse rather than single incidents of violence.
We welcome subsequent governments’ prioritisation of VAWG in their crime prevention and harm reduction strategies. However, we are still far from realising the ambition to end violence against women and girls. Police and Crime Commissioners have an important role to play in realising the ambitions of national policy and legislative changes in their areas.
This Spotlight briefing brings together examples of PCCs demonstrating the necessary leadership and political will to bring about real change. Using their powers to convene a range of public services and third sector organisations, they are improving service responses for women and girls. They are working with community and voluntary sector organisations and working across disciplines to establish a shared commitment to prevent and tackle VAWG.
Our review looked at how PCCs across the country are tackling VAWG, strengthening service provision and using the convening and commissioning powers of their roles. We identified several key themes as being essential for good practice:
Prevention and early identification
Early intervention and diversion
Community capacity building
Deterrence to address repeat victimisation
Provision of intensive specialist support.
