Recent reports from UK police have highlighted a concerning rise in violence against women and girls (VAWG) in England and Wales, describing the situation as reaching 'epidemic levels.' The police urge for a prioritized response to this issue, likening it to the attention given to terrorism and organized crime.
The statistics reveal that at least one in every 12 women will experience VAWG annually, totaling to 2 million victims, while one in every 20 adults will be a perpetrator of such violence. Over the past five years, crimes like rape, domestic abuse, stalking, and harassment have surged by 37%, prompting the UK Home Office to classify VAWG as a 'national threat to public safety.'
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) released a comprehensive 70-page report, marking the first national analysis of the scale of VAWG. Maggie Blyth, the NPCC’s lead for VAWG, emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to address the current challenges within the criminal justice system and implement a holistic approach to combat VAWG.
The report identified five 'critical threats' to women and girls, resulting in an estimated 3,000 VAWG-related crimes recorded daily across England and Wales. In the year ending March 2023, police documented over 100,000 rape and serious sexual offenses, 400,000 domestic abuse-related crimes, 436,000 stalking and harassment offenses, and more than 40,000 child sexual abuse and exploitation offenses.
Despite these alarming figures, only a fraction of perpetrators face conviction, with just 4.4% of domestic abuse cases resulting in convictions as of March 2023. The report also highlighted the concerning trend of child sexual abuse and exploitation, showing a 435% increase in such crimes between 2013 and 2022.
The NPCC and government officials have acknowledged the severity of the situation, with plans underway to halve violence against women and girls. The report's findings underscore the urgent need for collective action to address VAWG and ensure the safety and well-being of women and girls in the UK.
