‘EPIDEMIC’ LEVELS OF VIOLENT CRIME AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS: UK POLICE

Wed 24 July 2024:

A report released by the UK’s National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing on Tuesday highlights that women and girls in the United Kingdom are experiencing “epidemic” levels of violent crime, with more than 1 million offences reported within a year. The report indicates that violence against women and girls constituted about 20 percent of all reported crimes in England and Wales from 2022 to 2023.

Domestic Abuse and Gender-Based Violence

The report states that one in every six murders in England and Wales during the period was related to domestic abuse. Additionally, it reveals that at least one in every 12 women will be a victim of gender-based violent crimes, including rape, stalking, harassment, and online sexual abuse each year. Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth noted that the actual number is likely higher due to unreported crimes.

Growing Crisis and Complexity

Blyth described the data as “staggering” and noted that violent crimes targeting girls and women increased by 37 percent from 2018 to 2022. Child sexual abuse and exploitation surged by 435 percent from 2013 to 2022, with incidents rising from just over 20,000 to nearly 107,000.

“Violence against women and girls is a national emergency,” Blyth said. “We need to move forward as a society to make change and no longer accept violence against women and girls as inevitable.”

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Government and Law Enforcement Response

In response to the crisis, Britain’s government classified violence against women and girls as a national threat to public safety last year, instructing police forces to prioritize the issue on par with “terrorism” and organized crime. Thousands of police officers have been newly trained to investigate rape and other sexual offences over the past year.

Call for Comprehensive Action

Despite these efforts, the report emphasizes that the scale of violence is so vast that law enforcement alone cannot address it. It estimates that one in 20 people are perpetrators of violence against women and girls each year, with the actual number likely higher. Early data shows a 25 percent increase in arrests from 2019 to 2022, but Blyth asserts that more government support is needed to tackle a criminal justice system that is “overwhelmed and under-performing for victims.”

“Our focus will always be to bring the men behind these pervasive crimes to justice,” Blyth said. “By enhancing the way we use data and intelligence, we will improve our ability to identify, intercept and arrest those causing the most harm in communities.”

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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