Counter Terror Business - VAWG

New plans for safer streets

Polly Jones — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:07:05 +0000

The government will issue new guidance to councils to help them consider how to make their streets safer for women and girls.

YouGov polling has found that almost 9 in 10 (88 per cent) women have felt unsafe while walking at night, while 7 in 10 (71 per cent) have changed their route to avoid walking in the dark during winter or darker months.

Reported barriers include inadequate lighting, poorly maintained routes, personal safety fears and antisocial behaviour. The majority of respondents said they would feel safer walking in their neighbourhoods if key issues were addressed.

Local transport minister Lilian Greenwood, walked around Liverpool with a group of women and girls to talk about what they need to feel safer.

The guidance is due to be published later this year, with training sessions coming in the spring.

The guidance will outline how local authorities can design their streets to be safer for women and girls. This will include looking at active travel through the lens of gender can help create safer and more inclusive places, including explaining the importance of implementing better-designed street lighting and improved visibility, as well as established walking routes along roads that are generally busy and overlooked by other people and CCTV.

Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood said: "No one should worry about getting to their destination safely after dark, and these stats show just how much work there is to be done.

"This programme is turning conversations into real change by working directly with the councils who design our streets to ensure women and girls in our communities feel safe to walk, wheel and cycle whenever they want to."

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said: "Violence against women and girls is a national emergency, and this government will halve it in a decade. Women and girls deserve to feel safe simply going about their lives, whether that is walking down the street, travelling, or using public spaces after dark.

"I welcome this work to design streets that make women feel safer, shifting responsibility away from women and onto the spaces and behaviours that put them at risk."

Sports stars join campaign to fight VAWG

Polly Jones — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Sports stars including footballers Chloe Kelly and Dan Burn and boxer Connor Benn have joined a social media campaign to fight violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The new social content series is produced with Sky Media and planned and activated by MG OMD (part of Omnicom Media). It aims to help the public recognise behaviours that are abusive.

The Government's Enough campaign aims to reach audiences across social media, workplaces, and public transport to increase public recognition of abusive behaviours and encourage self‑reflection among perpetrators.

UK brands including TSB and the Night Time Industries Association will be helping to bring the message into homes, workplaces and high streets.

Last year, there were 5.1 million victims of domestic abuse, stalking or sexual assault, more than 200,000 sexual offences and over 800,000 domestic abuse related offences recorded by the police in 2025.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips MP, said: "This government is on a mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. To succeed, we must drive change in every arena of our society, including sport.

"That’s why, through the Enough campaign, we are working with some of the biggest names in sport to change the conversation in homes, schools, and communities across the country. To end the cycle of violence that’s become normal in the lives of so many.

"But we will not stop there. We will deploy the full power of the state to make this country safe for women and girls."

Michael Kill, CEO of Night Time Industries Association, said: "Violence against women and girls has no place in our society, and the Night Time Industries Association strongly welcomes the �鶹�� Office’s campaign addressing this critical issue. The night-time economy should be a space for culture, connection and enjoyment, and this campaign sends a clear message to perpetrators: abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.

"Across our sector, venues are already investing in staff training, bystander intervention, reporting processes and strong partnerships with police and local authorities. This campaign helps amplify those efforts, reinforces shared responsibility, and encourages safe, respectful behaviour in public spaces.

"Tackling VAWG requires sustained commitment, cultural change and collaboration. Campaigns like this empower individuals to intervene safely, challenge harmful attitudes, and make it clear that perpetrators, not victims, are accountable."

Tech firms given 48 hours to take down abusive images

Polly Jones — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:18:00 +0000

A new law will require tech firms to take down intimate images shared without a victim’s consent within 48 hours.

Thanks to an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, companies will be legally required to remove this content no more than 48 hours after it is flagged to them.

Companies that fail to act could face fines up to 10 per cent of their qualifying worldwide revenue or have their services blocked in the UK.

The government also plans to make sure that victims will only need to report an image once. This would mean where an image is reported, they are removed across multiple platforms in one go, and from then on, they are automatically deleted at every new upload.

In order to achieve this, plans are currently being considered by Ofcom for these kinds of images to be treated with the same severity as child sexual abuse and terrorism content, digitally marking them so that any time someone tries to repost them, they will be automatically taken down.

Prime Minister Keir Stamer said: "As Director of Public Prosecutions, I saw firsthand the unimaginable, often lifelong pain and trauma violence against women and girls causes. As Prime Minister, I will leave no stone unturned in the fight to protect women from violence and abuse.

"The online world is the frontline of the 21st century battle against violence against women and girls. That’s why my government is taking urgent action: against chatbots and ‘nudification’ tools.

"Today we are going further, putting companies on notice so that any non-consensual image is taken down in under 48 hours.

"Violence against women and girls has no place in our society, and I will not rest until it is rooted out."

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: "The days of tech firms having a free pass are over. Because of the action we are taking platforms must now find and remove intimate images shared without consent within a maximum of 48 hours.

"No woman should have to chase platform after platform, waiting days for an image to come down. Under this government, you report once and you’re protected everywhere.

"The internet must be a space where women and girls feel safe, respected, and able to thrive."

Government launches new VAWG strategy

Polly Jones — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:53:32 +0000

The government has launched a new strategy to fight Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

All police forces will now introduce specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams.

These will replace what the government is calling an outdated system, where officers often don't have the specialist knowledge to investigate rapists and sex offenders.

200 rapes are reported to the police every day and many more are not reported.

Domestic abuse protection orders will also be rolled out across England and Wales, placing mandatory curfews, electronic tagging, exclusion zones and notification requirements on abusers. Offenders who break these orders could face up to five years in jail.

�鶹�� Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "This government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency.

"For too long, these crimes have been considered a fact of life. That’s not good enough. We will halve it in a decade.

"Today we announce a range of measures to bear down on abusers, stopping them in their tracks. Rapists, sex offenders and abusers will have nowhere to hide."

CEO of Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, Cherryl Henry-Leach, said: "Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse welcomes the government’s commitment to strengthening the national response to violence against women and girls. The scale of this ambition reflects the urgency of the challenge and we stand ready to support government in its mission to halve VAWG within the next decade. The focus on improved investigation, enhanced tools to protect victims, and greater oversight of perpetrators signals a renewed commitment to systemic change.

"For these measures to be effective, accountability must be meaningful. Breaches of domestic abuse protection orders and other safeguards must be treated with the seriousness they warrant, recognising that non-compliance is not an administrative lapse, but a deliberate act that places victims at further risk."

Innovation squads to tackle VAWG

Polly Jones — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:29:05 +0000

The government has announced that new innovation squads will be rolled out to boost public services.

The squads will back community ideas and work with the frontline as part of a £100 million ‘Test, Learn and Grow’ reform programme to deliver the Plan for Change.

The teams will be deployed from central government and will work alongside local government and service users to tackle the biggest challenges affecting local communities.

This includes tackling violence against women and girls, as well as increasing the uptake of Best Start Family Hubs to support parents and young children, better supporting children with special needs, getting more people into work, rolling out breakfast clubs, and establishing neighbourhood health services.

The squads will work with tech experts and will be empowered to try new things and be creative.

The approach has already seen success in trials across the country. In Sheffield, innovation squads tested new ways to get more families through the door of local family hubs, resulting in many more local families using the hubs and in Liverpool, they worked with the council to build an innovative data-led platform to manage temporary accommodation.

Cabinet Office Minister, Georgia Gould said: "For too long residents and frontline workers have had to navigate fragmented and underfunded public services, people feeling like they have to arm up to battle to get the support they need.

"We are going to end this. The test, learn and grow programme will bring the centre of government out of Whitehall and into communities, working with those who deliver and use public services to solve problems together, as part of our Plan for Change. We will reform public services from the ground up so people always come first."

Kids to be taught about misogyny in school

Polly Jones — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 08:56:34 +0000

Children are set to be taught about misogyny in school under new plans announced by the government.

New Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance has been published, which aims to protect children and young people from misogynism, deepfake porn and unhealthy attitudes to consent, power and control.

The statutory guidance has a focus on helping boys identify positive role models, and challenge myths about women and relationships that are spread online in the ‘manosphere’, while not stigmatising boys for being boys.

Secondary schools will also include lessons on intel culture.

New data has revealed that when asked to think about the past week, 37 per cent of pupils aged 11-19 had heard comments that made them concerned about the safety of girls, and 54 per cent said they had witnessed comments they would describe as misogynistic.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: "Before I was elected to Parliament, I managed a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence, so I have seen first-hand the devastating impact when we don’t foster healthy attitudes from the youngest age.

"I want our children to be equipped to defy the malign forces that exist online. Schools and parents alike have a vital role to play, helping children identify positive role models and resist the manipulation too often used online to groom impressionable young minds.

"Whether it’s helping deliver on our Plan for Change mission to halve violence against women and girls or growing a more just and equal society, there can be no more basic mission for a government then making sure our children grow up to become decent, respectful adults, prepared for the modern world."

Live Facial Recognition to combat VAWG

Meghan Shaw — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:13:17 +0000

The Metropolitan Police Service’s Live Facial Recognition (LFR) has arrested more than 1,000 wanted criminals, 100 of which involved in serious violence against women and girls (VAWG) offences, such as stalking and domestic abuse.

Of those arrested thanks to LFR, 773 have been charged or cautioned, evidence of LFR’s position impact on London’s safety and community.

LFR works by capturing live footage of people passing by and comparing their faces against a list of wanted offenders, generating an alert if there is a match. Met officers then conduct further checks, like reviewing court orders or other relevant information, to determine if the person is a suspect. This element is key, as an alert does not warrant an arrest without thorough evaluation by real officers.

The Met implement robust safeguarding by immediately deleting data on members of the public who are not wanted by the police.

Crucially, LFR interventions don’t always result in arrest, as the tool is often used to stop people who are flagged from the watchlist who have conditions imposed by the courts, meaning police can ensure they are adhering to their conditions.

In London, a breach of conditions has been identified 21 per cent of the time.

Lindsey Chiswick, lead for LFR at the Met and nationally, said: “This milestone of 1,000 arrest is a demonstration of how cutting-edge technology can make London safer by removing dangerous offenders from our streets.

“Live Facial Recognition is a powerful tool, which is helping us deliver justice for victims, including those who have been subjected to horrendous offences, such as rape and serious assault.

“It is not saving our officers’ valuable time but delivering faster, more accurate results to catch criminals—helping us be more efficient than ever before.”

The Met launch new technology to combat VAWG

Meghan Shaw — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:37:13 +0000

The Metropolitan Police Service has unveiled a new technology that makes it easier to photograph and visualise bruising on victims of violence, particularly on darker skin tones.

Now being rolled out across London, Project Archway, as it is known, allows officers to better assess victims’ injuries, which is a landmark development in the fight against violence towards women and girls (VAWG). In 2024 alone, more than 123,000 VAWG-related crimes were reported to the Met.

Officers have faced challenges capturing visible evidence of bruising on darker skin or during early stages of injury, which can limit evidential strength at the charging stage. Project Archway allows this critical gap to close.

The handheld device uses a technique called cross-polarisation to dramatically enhance the visibility of injuries, particularly bruises that may not appear clearly to the naked eye.

Clearer images of evidence help investigators build stronger files, support CPS charging decisions and give courts the visual evidence needed to hold perpetrators accountable, meaning that the technology is a move to ensuring that victims of all backgrounds receive equal chances of obtaining justice.

During a pilot in South London, 45 per cent of its 33 uses resulted in charges, with several others under investigation.

Developed by the Met, this technology makes the Met the only force in the UK to develop and deploy this kind of frontline equipment to strengthen evidence, support victims from the first police contact, and help bring perpetrators to justice.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “We have made big strides in protecting women and girls from predatory men—and this new device is a bold symbol of that transformation.

“Compared to three years ago, our charge rate for offences for violence against women and girls offences has tripled, and we’re going after the most dangerous individuals through our V100 programme. Women in London are better protected, and this is reflected in the trust gap between men and women closing.

“These improvements are a credit to our people—to their empathy, determination, and courage as they take on these heartrending cases day after day.

“The Met is leading nationally on innovation that puts victims first. We are the only police service to develop this kind of frontline technology, and we’re already seeing how it strengthens evidence, builds trust, and ensures victimless feel seen and heard from the moment they report abuse.”

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Met Police boost visible presence at concerts

Polly Jones — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 11:08:21 +0000

The Met Police have increased patrols at major music events events across the city this summer to help keep women and girls safe.

Officers will be a visible and reassuring presence at more than 51 large-scale concerts in the capital this summer.

Three million people due to attend Wembley stadium alone and 5,000 officer shifts will be dedicated to supporting the concerts - including public order officers, protective security and dedicated Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) patrols.

At a Beyoncé concert at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday 5 June, officers supported venue security in removing individuals for stalking and threatening behaviour, and arrested a man for upskirting who remains on police bail while enquiries continue.

Officers will also be patrolling between venues and major transport hubs and on hand to speak to concert goers.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to tackle VAWG in London, including the Met’s V100 project which uses data to track and target the most harmful offenders.

Since its launch the programme has more than doubled the risk of arrest for the most harmful VAWG suspects compared to before the initiative existed.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, who leads the Met’s V100 initiative and is also the lead officer for concerts this summer, said: “Every woman and girl has the right to feel safe, whether walking home, using public transport, or enjoying a night out at a concert. Yet too many still don’t. The Met is determined to change that.

“This summer we are working closer than ever with stadium management and major event organisers to help keep the public safe. Dedicated VAWG patrols are taking place at a number of concerts throughout the summer, with officers trained to spot predatory men in crowds and taken action to prevent violence before it happens.”

Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, said: “Women and girls deserve to be safe and feel safe wherever they are in the capital and I welcome this action by the Met at summer concerts to prevent violent behaviour, support those in need and take swift action against perpetrators.

“The Met’s V100 work, made possible by City Hall funding, is transforming the way they tackle violence against women and girls, ensuring perpetrators who pose the greatest risk are arrested and convicted – protecting victims from the worst offenders and making our streets safer. Putting specially trained officers at these busy summer concerts is another step in the right direction. The Mayor and I will continue to support the Met to do everything possible to keep women and girls safe as part of our ongoing public health approach to tackling VAWG in all its forms to build a safer London for all.”

SIA funding for preventing VAWG

Polly Jones — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:22:12 +0000

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has awarded its grant for good causes to three organisations preventing violence against women and girls.

The SIA’s grant for good causes is made up proceeds of crime confiscated from individuals convicted of criminal offences within the private security industry. The money is then used to benefit the private security industry and improve public protection.

This year's beneficiaries work to prevent violence against women and girls. This includes working with victims and survivors of sexual violence, child sexual abuse, and domestic abuse.

The grants for 2024 to 2025 have been awarded to: Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse in Essex (CARA) (£10,000); The Haven Refuge Wolverhampton (£2,661.50); and Rising Sun (£3,283.50).

Paul Cartlidge, chair of the grants panel, and Investigations and Enforcement Head of Operational Support at the SIA, said: "We believe that crime should not pay, so it’s fitting that illegally acquired money should be taken from criminals and used for the benefit of society and especially for the protection of the public. The organisations we have awarded to this year are actively preventing violence against women and girls, and their applications resonated with the panel and stood out from many other worthy applicants."