Police praised for ‘vast improvements’ in response to crimes against women and girls

8 July 2021

The police service has made “vast improvements” in how it responds to crimes against women and girls but other agencies must play their part in tackling such offending, according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The inspectorate has published an interim report as part of an in-depth review of how effectively the police engage with women and girls and will publish a full report later this year.

Inspectors highlighted an epidemic of offending against women and girls citing the fact that an estimated 1.6 million women in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the 12 months to March 2020.

But it said partners such as the Crown Prosecution Service, health, social care and education must work with the police to tackle the issues.

 “I very much welcome the fact that the inspectorate has acknowledged that the police service cannot be held solely responsible for improving the way in which crimes against women and girls are dealt with,” says Ben Hudson, secretary of Suffolk Police Federation, “There has to be a joined up approach involving everyone from the Government, the various parts of the criminal justice system and the public sector. There also has to be a significant investment of money and time too.

“Police officers are already under significant pressure because of the changes to the director’s guidance in February this year which has meant there is additional work for them to do pre-charge and this has to be taken into account.

“We look forward to reading the full report but I hope that this review will prove to be the catalyst for the change we need to see in society.”

HMICFRS reviewed evidence from previous inspections, consulted with experts from policing, Government and victim support organisations, and analysed the progress made by the police.

After reviewing the evidence, the inspectorate has recommended that transformation of the whole system is needed, including:

• The Government, police, criminal justice system and public sector should immediately and unequivocally commit to prioritising the response to violence against women and girls, supported by sufficient funding and mandated responsibilities;
• The police should make the relentless pursuit and disruption of perpetrators a national priority, and their capability and capacity to do this should be enhanced; and
• Funding and structures should be put in place to ensure victims receive tailored and consistent support.

Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham said: “We are living during a national epidemic of violence against women and girls. The prevalence and range of offending and harm is stark and shocking. We are clear that the police have made great progress over the last decade against a backdrop of greater demand, and we want forces to maintain this momentum and build on these improvements. But there is still evidence of inconsistent support for victims and low prosecution rates.

“Offending against women and girls is deep-rooted and pervasive in our society. Urgent action is needed to uproot and address this and police cannot solve this alone. There must be a seamless approach to preventing and tackling violence against women and girls across the whole system, including education, local authorities, health, social care and those from across the criminal justice system – with all agencies working together.

“A radical and immediate change in approach is needed, supported by sustained funding and mandated responsibilities, potentially through a new statutory framework. We need to end violence against women and girls by preventing it, supporting victims, and bringing perpetrators to justice with the full force of police powers and the law.

John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, said police officers should not face anger from victims for the failings of other agencies and called on other sectors to step up and play their part.

He explained: “This isn’t something that can be solved overnight, or by just recruiting more officers. It’s a complex issue that demands time, attention, and money.” 

The interim report has been released now to help inform the Government’s violence against women and girls strategy. The final report will be published in September.