Specialist teams dedicated to investigating rape and sexual offences will be rolled out across every police force in England and Wales by 2029, according to a recent government announcement. This effort is a significant part of an extensive strategy intending to halve the incidence of violence against women and girls over the next decade. The comprehensive plan, set to be revealed on Thursday after facing delays earlier this year, will include funding for online undercover units and the introduction of domestic abuse protection orders.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood affirmed the government's commitment to tackling these crimes, stating that these measures aim to 'bear down on abusers, stopping them in their tracks. Rapists, sex offenders, and abusers will have nowhere to hide.'
The government reports that more than half of the police forces already have such specialist teams, but the goal is to ensure every force has officers trained specifically for dealing with rape and sexual offence cases by 2029. These officers will receive training to better comprehend the mindsets of both abusers and victims. Declaring violence against women and girls a national emergency, the home secretary emphasized, 'For too long, these crimes have been considered a fact of life. That's not good enough. We will halve it in a decade.'
Additionally, domestic abuse protection orders, which have been piloted over the past year, will be expanded across England and Wales. These orders are designed to prevent individuals from contacting victims, visiting their homes, or posting damaging content online, and they can address coercive or controlling behavior. Violating an order will constitute a criminal offense.
The government also plans nearly £2 million in investment for special undercover units focusing on those who harass women and girls online. A recent report highlighted that over 25% of police forces in England and Wales have not adopted essential policies for investigating sexual offences, noting the pervasiveness of sexually-motivated crimes against women in public spaces and critiquing the insufficient data available on these incidents. The report called for immediate measures to prevent predators from committing crimes.