Expert teams and online investigators mobilized across England and Wales to combat violence against women and girls in a national emergency
In a decisive move to address systemic violence against women and girls, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced a new initiative to establish specialist investigation units across England and Wales. This announcement follows the declaration of violence against women and girls as a national emergency.
National Emergency Declared
The declaration aims to combat the increasing incidents of violence faced by women and girls. The newly formed teams will be operational across all police forces by 2029 as part of a comprehensive Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy.
Implementation of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders
As part of this strategy, Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) will be deployed nationwide. These orders, previously trialed in select areas, aim to restrict abusers through:
- Curfews
- Electronic tagging
- Exclusion zones
DAPOs will cover various forms of domestic abuse, such as economic abuse, coercive behavior, stalking, and honor-based violence. Breaching these orders can result in prison sentences of up to five years.
Funding for Online Investigation Teams
The government plans to invest nearly £2 million to establish a network of officers specialized in targeting online abusers. Utilizing covert techniques, these teams will address violence against women and girls on digital platforms.
Past Successes in Online Investigations
A similar initiative funded by the Home Office focused on child sexual abuse has led to the arrest of over 1,700 offenders, showcasing the potential effectiveness of targeted online investigation efforts.
Long-Term Goals and Strategies
Shabana Mahmood emphasized the necessity of these actions, stating no longer will violence against women and girls be accepted as a part of everyday life. The goal is to halve the incidents of such violence within the next decade. This commitment aligns with Labour’s manifesto pledge.
Comprehensive Policy Enhancements
In addition to new investigative units, the strategy includes:
- Utilizing facial recognition technology to identify offenders
- Enhanced protections for stalking victims
- Making strangulation a criminal offense
- Establishing dedicated domestic abuse specialists in emergency call centers
Political Responses
The Conservative Party criticized Labour’s delay in publishing the violence against women and girls strategy. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of failing women by not supporting tougher sentencing measures and allowing a decline in sex-offender convictions.
Shabana Mahmood is expected to further discuss these initiatives on Sky News, reinforcing the government’s commitment to eradicating violence against women and girls in this national emergency.
