Violence Against Women and Girls:

Violence Against Women and Girls: A NationalEmergency That Demands Immediate Action
By Aneeta Prem MBE, Founder of Freedom Charity

Introduction:
The UK government has declared Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) a nationalemergency—a term that signals a call to action. However, the reality is this:women and girls are still at risk today, not just tomorrow. The government'spromises to address the crisis by 2029 don’t solve the problems of today, andthat delay is a dangerous gamble. Women deserve more than promises; theydeserve immediate, actionable change.

As a safeguarding expert who has spent over adecade working with survivors of domestic abuse, forced marriage, and dishonour-basedabuse, I have seen firsthand the limitations of government promises and thegaps between policy and real protection. The time to act is now.

What theGovernment Promises by 2029

The government's strategy includes specialist rapeand sexual offence teams in every police force by 2029, expansion of DomesticAbuse Protection Orders (DAPOs), and a national model based on the MetropolitanPolice’s V100 programme targeting the highest-risk offenders.

These are important steps, but 2029 is four yearsaway. For women who are experiencing violence now, four years is far too long.The promises, while necessary, are insufficient without immediate action thatdirectly addresses the needs of survivors today.

SpecialistPolice Teams: What Happens Between Now and 2029?

The government has pledged that every police forcewill have dedicated rape and serious sexual offence teams by 2029. On paper,this is progress. However, as the Home Secretary herself has acknowledged, thecurrent reality is a postcode lottery. Women living in areas without thesespecialist teams face delays, poor investigations, and, in some cases, completefailure of the system to provide protection.

For example, Shabana Mahmood, Minister for VAWG,recently admitted that the criminal justice system continues to fail women.This stark admission reveals the real issue: too many victims are not believedor taken seriously when they report their experiences of violence. This cannotwait for 2029.

DomesticAbuse Protection Orders (DAPOs): A Lifeline or a Paper Promise?

DAPOs can be a game-changer if they are enforcedproperly. These court orders can impose no-contact conditions, exclusion zones,and other protective measures on abusers, helping to keep women safe whilelegal proceedings take place.

However, Freedom Charity has long advocated thatfor orders like DAPOs to work, there must be adequate enforcement. An orderwithout proper enforcement is nothing more than a piece of paper. If policeforces are not trained, if courts are overwhelmed, and if funding isn’tguaranteed to support women in accessing refuge and support services, thenDAPOs risk becoming symbolic rather than life-saving.

We need to ask: Are women truly safe now? Are theysupported through the system with meaningful outcomes, or is it still astruggle to be believed and protected?

The Met’sV100 Programme: What It Gets Right and What It Risks

The Metropolitan Police’s V100 programme is hailedas a data-led approach to targeting the highest-risk offenders. By using toolslike the Cambridge Crime Harm Index, the Met identifies repeat offenders andfocuses investigative resources on the most dangerous individuals. Since itsimplementation, there have been over 100 convictions, which is a positive sign.

However, targeted policing has its risks. If datais incomplete, or if there is bias in how it is applied, the system risksreinforcing existing inequalities, particularly in underreported crimes like forcedmarriage or dishonour-based abuse. These are crimes that predominantly affect womenfrom minority communities, and we must ensure these cases are not lost in abroader data-driven initiative that doesn’t account for cultural nuances andvulnerabilities.

WhatNeeds to Change Now: Three Key Commitments

A national emergency response cannot be aboutpromises set for 2029. It must be about immediate, measurable change. Here arethree actions that should be taken today:

1. Immediate Implementation of National Standards
       Every police force must meet minimum standards for handling rape, sexual     offences, and domestic abuse investigations immediately. This includes specialist     training, victim-centered approaches, and ensuring all officers are     trauma-informed. A national plan must define this baseline now.
2. Force-by-Force Transparency
       The government must publish force-by-force data annually, showing the progress     of specialist teams, rape charge rates, victim attrition rates, and DAPO     enforcement outcomes. The public deserves to see real, ongoing progress,     not just promises of future improvement.
3. Guaranteed Funding for Specialist Support
       Freedom Charity sees firsthand the vital need for specialist refuges, advocacy     services, and BME-led support networks. Without these services, women are     left exposed. We must guarantee long-term funding for organisations that     offer culturally competent support and refuge spaces.

FreedomCharity’s Role: Support for Women Today

At Freedom Charity, we have been at the forefrontof providing specialised support to women and girls at risk of forced marriage,dishonour-based abuse, and FGM.

We advocate for survivors from all communities, andwe train frontline professionals to ensure that vulnerable women are identifiedand protected from harm. Our work is a critical safety net in a system that isstill catching up. We are committed to ensuring that women’s safety is not anafterthought.

Conclusion:A True National Emergency Means Action Now

The government’s promise of a national emergencyfor VAWG is welcome, but the truth is we cannot afford to wait until 2029.Every woman and girl in this country deserves to feel safe right now, not infour years.

We need to demand that the government deliver onits promises today, not in a distant future. This is an urgent crisis thatrequires immediate action—not more headlines.

The time for change is now. We cannot wait foranother generation of women to be left vulnerable. Let’s hold the governmentaccountable for the promises they’ve made, and ensure that women’s lives areprotected—today, not tomorrow.

FAQ

What is the V100 programme?
The V100 programme is a data-led initiative by the Metropolitan Police toidentify and target the highest-risk offenders of violence against women andgirls. It uses crime severity data to prioritise offenders.

What are Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs)?
DAPOs are court orders that place restrictions on the perpetrator of domesticabuse. They are designed to protect victims by enforcing no-contact rules and exclusionzones. Breach of a DAPO is a criminal offence.

What can Freedom Charity do for survivors of forcedmarriage or FGM?
Freedom Charity provides safe routes to support, advocacy, and specialisttraining for frontline professionals. We work closely with communities at riskof forced marriage and dishonour abuse to ensure victims are supported andsafe.

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References:

• BBC News on Domestic Abuse Protection Orders
• Centre for Women’s Justice on Domestic Violence and Stalking
• Independent on the V100 Programme

AboutAneeta Prem MBE

Aneeta Prem MBE is the Founderand President of Freedom Charity, which supports victims of forced marriage, dishonour-basedabuse, and female genital mutilation (FGM). With a focus on safeguarding and humanrights, Aneeta is a trusted expert, having advised government and police forcesacross the UK.

Awarded an MBE for her work incharity, Aneeta is a respected campaigner on violence against women and girls(VAWG), regularly consulted by media, academics, and policy makers.

Through Freedom Charity, Aneeta has driven significant legal reform in forced marriage and dishonour-basedviolence, working to protect and support vulnerable individuals, and advocating for gender equality and human rights.

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