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Statement — Victims’ Commissioner responds NPCC ‘National Policing Statement’ (VAWG)

Published:
An image of Baroness Newlove alongside an excerpt from the Victims' Commissioners' statement: The King’s Speech commitment to halve violence against women and girls in a decade is commendable and societal change will be crucial to its success. The police are a vital piece of the puzzle, but tackling violence against women and girls will require a whole-society approach, especially since only a minority of victims engage with the criminal justice system.

Baroness Newlove calls for government to develop robust strategies to tackle tech-enabled VAWG, such as AI deepfakes.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council have published their ‘national policing statement‘, declaring that violence against women and girls (VAWG) has reached ‘epidemic’ levels in England and Wales.

Bringing data and analysis together, the report provides a detailed update on the scale, complexity and impact of VAWG — including what is being done by police.

Calling for a ‘whole-system approach’ to tackle the crisis, the report introduces a national hub, bringing policing and external partners together.

The Victims’ Commissioner welcomes the statement, praising its clear understanding of VAWG complexities and victim-centred approach.

Commissioned by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing, the NPCC report found:

  • Over one million VAWG related crimes were recorded during 2022/23, accounting for 20% of all police recorded crime.
  • Police recorded VAWG related crime increased by 37% between 2018/23.
  • At least 1 in every 12 women will be a victim each year, with the exact number expected to be much higher.

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:

“A strong police response is essential for tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), ensuring victim safety and holding perpetrators accountable. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) plan, with its focus on victim-centred approaches and enforcement of protective orders is welcome. Their emphasis on training, specialist skills, and data collection demonstrates a clear understanding of the complexities of VAWG offending. I support NPCC calls for a dedicated national policing hub, to further enhance the police response.

“The King’s Speech commitment to halve VAWG in a decade is commendable and societal change will be crucial to its success. The police are a vital piece of the puzzle, but tackling VAWG will require a whole-society approach, especially since only a minority of victims engage with the criminal justice system.

“It is vital that we develop strategies to address low reporting rates and the growing concern of tech- enabled VAWG, particularly AI deepfakes. On the latter, I urge government to work with industry to develop robust strategies – with clear accountability mechanisms – to protect women and girls online.”