LONDON – Violence against women and girls in England and Wales has reached alarming levels, with nearly 3,000 offences recorded daily, according to a new report published on July 23. The study, commissioned by two law enforcement bodies, underscores the urgency of the situation, estimating that at least one in every 12 women will be a victim of such violence each year, with actual numbers likely much higher.
“Violence against women and girls is a national emergency,” stated senior police chief Maggie Blyth, emphasizing the gravity of the findings in her comments accompanying the report.
The report revealed that over a million violent crimes against women and girls were recorded by the police between April 2022 and March 2023, constituting just under a fifth of all police-recorded crime, excluding fraud, in England and Wales during that period. This represents a 37% increase in violence against women and girls since 2018-2019, with domestic abuse identified as one of the most significant burdens on policing.
The study further estimated that one in 20 adults in England and Wales, or approximately 2.3 million people, will commit crimes against women and girls annually. “These are cautious estimates as we know much crime goes unreported and in policing, we often see only the tip of the iceberg,” Ms. Blyth cautioned. She highlighted that the epidemic levels of violence against females necessitate urgent government intervention to support the “overwhelmed” criminal justice system.
Alarmingly, child sexual abuse and exploitation offences have surged by 435% from 2013 to 2022, increasing from just over 20,000 to nearly 107,000 cases. The average age of a suspect in these cases has dropped to 15, indicating that offenders are becoming younger. The report also noted that stalking and harassment constitute 85% of online-related offences.
In response to this crisis, Britain’s Interior Ministry declared violence against women and girls a national threat to public safety in February 2023. Consequently, more than 4,500 new officers were trained in 2023 to investigate rape and serious sexual offences. The report also noted a 38% increase in charges for adult rape from the year ending December 2022 to the year ending December 2023.
These statistics reflect a dire situation that requires immediate and comprehensive action to protect women and girls in England and Wales and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.