Dyfed Powys Police Federation secretary Roger Webb today welcomed Government plans to treat violence against women and girls as a national threat – but said the plans must be properly resourced.

In the proposals set out in the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) launched by the Home Secretary earlier this week, tackling violence against women and girls will be as important as countering threats like terrorism, serious and organised crime and child sexual abuse.

According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), an estimated 6.9 per cent of women aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2022; this equates to an estimated 1.7 million women.

Roger said: “Violence against women and girls is a scourge on society that needs to be tackled with the utmost urgency.

“Women and girls have the right to be safe in their home, place of work, place of education, online, and in social settings.

“The figures around violence against women and domestic abuse are shocking and we welcome Government proposals to treat it as a national threat.

“However, it needs a joined up approach and there are critical roles to play for our partners in education, housing, health, social care, child protection, and the wider criminal justice system.

“But it must be properly funded and resourced. If the Government is serious about tackling violence against women and girls then it must put in the money and investment that’s needed.”

Under the new proposals the law will be changed so offenders convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour and sentenced to a year or more imprisonment or a suspended sentence will be jointly managed by the police, prison and probation services. They will be added to the violent and sex offenders’ register too.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “Domestic abuse is a despicable crime that leads to people’s closest relationships becoming a frightening existence of torment, pain, fear, and anxiety.

“It is completely unacceptable and as Home Secretary I will do everything in my power to stop it.

“The wide-ranging measures announced today will mean the most dangerous offenders will be watched more closely and added to the violent and sex offender register.

“Also, police forces in England and Wales will now have to treat violence against women and girls as a national threat and more victims will be protected from harm.”

The SPR sets out the Home Secretary's view of what the current national threats are, and the national policing capabilities needed to counter those threats.