Police praised for ‘vast improvements’ in response to crimes against women and girls
14 July 2021
The police service has made vast improvements in how it responds to crimes against women and girls but fundamental system-wide reform is still needed, according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
HMICFRS has published an interim report into how effectively the police engage with women and girls. It said there is an epidemic of offending against women and girls, for example, an estimated 1.6 million women in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the 12 months to March 2020.
But it said it was not just down to the police to tackle the problem with other partners such as the Crown Prosecution Service, health, social care and education also needing to be involved.
“For far too long, it has seemed as if the police are expected to tackle all society’s ills,” says Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, “But, of course, we cannot work in isolation. There needs to be a partnership approach with all sectors pulling together, developing strategies and then working together to ensure that we all play our part in protecting the public and developing an effective criminal justice system. Only then will we be properly supporting the victims of crime.”
The inspectorate’s findings are from its interim report, released now to help inform the Government’s violence against women and girls strategy, with its final report to be published in September.
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.
