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Police forces in England and Wales to get units that tackle violence against women
Theguardian.com and 2 more
- Specialist rape and sexual offences investigators will be deployed in every police force in England and Wales by 2029 to tackle violence against women and girls.
- Domestic abuse protection orders will roll out nationwide, allowing courts to impose sanctions such as electronic tagging and exclusion zones to protect victims.
- A national policy push frames violence against women and girls as a national emergency, with a commitment to halve it within ten years.
- Specialist investigators for rape and sexual offences aim to replace the current non-specialist system to improve case handling and charging outcomes.
- Covert online investigators will be funded to target internet-abusive behaviour toward women and girls, improving online protections.
- New restrictions and enforcement tools will be tested, including empowerment of courts to extend protection without arbitrary time limits.
- The strategy incorporates wider measures such as broader domestic abuse protections, potential deportation changes for foreign sex offenders, and expanded disclosure schemes.
- Campaigners welcome the rollout but warn delays and uneven implementation could leave survivors without timely protection.
- The National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection is expected to support the new units under a separate 13 million project.
- The plan draws on lessons from Operation Soteria to improve investigation quality and charge rates in sexual violence cases.
- The government pledged nearly £2 million to fund covert online investigators, emphasising robust enforcement against internet-based abuse.
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