Crimes involving violence against women and girls have shot up by nearly 40% in England and Wales recently, according to a fresh report.
The study, conducted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, NPCC and College of Policing, revealed a significant increase in recorded crimes, rising from around 789,703 in 2018-19 to 1,080,157 in 2022-23.
Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth from the College of Policing labeled violence against women and girls as a “national emergency.”
The researchers discovered that almost 3,000 crimes of violence against women are logged by the police daily, with approximately one in 12 women falling victim each year.
The report, titled The National Policing Statement for Violence Against Women and Girls, highlighted that in 2022/23, offenses related to violence against women and girls accounted for 20% of all crime.
The study proposes the establishment of a policing hub, the National Centre for Public Protection, to ensure specialized training for forces and to engage in preventive measures in collaboration with other agencies.
TV personality Georgia Harrison, a victim of revenge porn by her former partner, reality TV star Stephen Bear, expressed her horror at the significant rise in cases shown by the statistics.
Harrison said: “I truly believe misogynistic online algorithms play a huge part in the rise of violence against women and girls.
“I see it so often with young men scrolling through Instagram with so much of the content aimed at degrading women and encouraging sexism on every level. I have hope for change with Labour coming into power.”
Harrison, known for her appearances on The Only Way Is Essex and Love Island, urged men to treat their partners as they would want their family members treated – “with love and respect.”
Blyth, who also the lead for violence against women and girls at the NPCC,, told The Independent, “We know that continuous improvement is needed to strengthen policing’s response to violence against women and girls.
“Improvements must be driven nationally, ensuring consistency from force to force to give victims the service they expect and deserve.”
She continued, “Violence against women and girls is a national emergency. We need the support and direction of government to intervene and address the current problems within the criminal justice system and lead the way on a whole-system approach to violence against women and girls.
“We aspire to a position where an effective criminal justice response to violence against women and girls is the last resort.”
The study highlighted a shocking increase of over 400% in child sexual abuse and exploitation cases from 2013 to 2022.
The research revealed that one in six murders in 2022/2023 was related to domestic abuse, and arrests for domestic abuse offenses saw a significant 22% rise in the year ending March 2023 compared to the previous period.
Despite this, numerous victims face homelessness or returning to their abusers due to a chronic national shortage of refuge places.
The study estimated that one in 20 individuals perpetrates violence against women and girls each year – although the actual extent of the problem is believed to be significantly worse.
Sophie Francis-Cansfield, from the prominent domestic abuse charity, Women’s Aid, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, the criminal justice system, and experts.
She stated: “It is crucial to recognize that many survivors may not disclose their experiences to the police, indicating that the issue is likely much larger than the data indicates.”
The study, conducted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, NPCC and College of Policing, revealed a significant increase in recorded crimes, rising from around 789,703 in 2018-19 to 1,080,157 in 2022-23.
Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth from the College of Policing labeled violence against women and girls as a “national emergency.”
The researchers discovered that almost 3,000 crimes of violence against women are logged by the police daily, with approximately one in 12 women falling victim each year.
The report, titled The National Policing Statement for Violence Against Women and Girls, highlighted that in 2022/23, offenses related to violence against women and girls accounted for 20% of all crime.
The study proposes the establishment of a policing hub, the National Centre for Public Protection, to ensure specialized training for forces and to engage in preventive measures in collaboration with other agencies.
TV personality Georgia Harrison, a victim of revenge porn by her former partner, reality TV star Stephen Bear, expressed her horror at the significant rise in cases shown by the statistics.
Harrison said: “I truly believe misogynistic online algorithms play a huge part in the rise of violence against women and girls.
“I see it so often with young men scrolling through Instagram with so much of the content aimed at degrading women and encouraging sexism on every level. I have hope for change with Labour coming into power.”
Harrison, known for her appearances on The Only Way Is Essex and Love Island, urged men to treat their partners as they would want their family members treated – “with love and respect.”
Blyth, who also the lead for violence against women and girls at the NPCC,, told The Independent, “We know that continuous improvement is needed to strengthen policing’s response to violence against women and girls.
“Improvements must be driven nationally, ensuring consistency from force to force to give victims the service they expect and deserve.”
She continued, “Violence against women and girls is a national emergency. We need the support and direction of government to intervene and address the current problems within the criminal justice system and lead the way on a whole-system approach to violence against women and girls.
“We aspire to a position where an effective criminal justice response to violence against women and girls is the last resort.”
The study highlighted a shocking increase of over 400% in child sexual abuse and exploitation cases from 2013 to 2022.
The research revealed that one in six murders in 2022/2023 was related to domestic abuse, and arrests for domestic abuse offenses saw a significant 22% rise in the year ending March 2023 compared to the previous period.
Despite this, numerous victims face homelessness or returning to their abusers due to a chronic national shortage of refuge places.
The study estimated that one in 20 individuals perpetrates violence against women and girls each year – although the actual extent of the problem is believed to be significantly worse.
Sophie Francis-Cansfield, from the prominent domestic abuse charity, Women’s Aid, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government, the criminal justice system, and experts.
She stated: “It is crucial to recognize that many survivors may not disclose their experiences to the police, indicating that the issue is likely much larger than the data indicates.”
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
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