Staffordshire Police Federation chair Phil Jones has welcomed a report from the police inspectorate which not only acknowledges the “vast improvements” to the way in which the police service responds to crimes against women and girls but also calls on other agencies to play their part in building on the progress to date.
Phil Jones was responding to an interim report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published as part of a review into 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 with an estimated 1.6 million women in England and Wales having experienced domestic abuse in the 12 months to March 2020.
“I am pleased to read that the inspectors have seen big improvements in terms of the way the police services responds to crimes against women and girls. These women and girls are our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, our grandmothers, our nieces, our friends and our colleagues. We owe it to them all to ensure that we get this right,” said Phil.
“But the police cannot do this on their own. We need our partners to step up too. The Crown Prosecution Service, the health service, social care providers, the education sector and others must all work together to tackle the issues highlighted.
“This interim report already shows where improvements are needed and I will look forward to seeing the final report later this year as this should give us the foundations to build on.”
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 HMICFRS 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.
