Police and partners leading the way to tackle VAWG

At an event in central London today, police forces, campaigners, ambassadors, charities and support organisations came together with police chiefs and the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, to recognise the pioneering work happening across policing to make communities safer for women and girls.

The awards also recognise the work that forces are undertaking to radically change the way they investigate rape and serious sexual offences, known as Operation Soteria. Under Soteria, which was implemented across all forces in England and Wales in July last year, policing is working to deliver sustainable improvements to procedural and outcome justice for victims of rape ad serious sexual offences.

Award winners ranged from individuals creating culture change and improved professional standards in their police force, through to valuable police work in schools to raise awareness of VAWG and misogyny to inspire future generations.

Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for violence against women and girls, said: “Policing is on an important journey to transform the way it tackles violence against women and girls, and we have made fundamental changes to improve the way we investigate and record crimes and support victims throughout the process.

“I am incredibly proud of the individuals, teams and forces across the country working hard to make a real difference to the lives and safety of women and girls.

“The passion and dedication of those recognised today shows that there is hope, there are green shoots of change, and there is so much more we can do to work together across the board to create a society where victims are heard, supported and protected, and where perpetrators can no longer inflict harm on others.

“On a personal note, I am heartened by the work forces are doing to turn the tide on VAWG, there is real opportunity and determination to get our response right for victims and women and girls. We must grasp it.”

Among those recognised included:

• Lisa Squire - mother of Libby Squire and active VAWG ambassador: Libby Squire was a university student who tragically disappeared in 2019 and was later found to have been raped and murdered. Her killer had a history of sexual offences. Since then, Libby’s mother, Lisa, has passionately campaigned for personal safety awareness among young students and advocated for tougher sentences for men convicted of non-contact sexual offences, like voyeurism, along with therapy support. 
  
  Lisa collaborates closely with policing while balancing her full-time job as a maternity nursery nurse. She has supported multiple forces, including educating officers from Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police about the importance of being a supportive first contact for survivors.
  
  Recently, she has been involved in creating an educational resource for KS4 students and a campaign aimed at university students, set to launch during Fresher’s Week. 
  
  Lisa shares her and Libby’s story at universities, schools, and conferences, leaving audiences inspired by her passion for change and education. Her dedication to raising awareness about VAWG and its various crime types is invaluable, making a significant impact on how young people perceive personal safety.  
  
  
• A multi-agency stalking unit led by the Metropolitan Police Service, NHS North London Mental Health Partnership, Probation Service and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust: This unit focuses on perpetrator behaviour change through mental health interventions and probation management while providing essential advocacy services for victims, who are predominantly female.
  
  Since the introduction of Stalking Protection Orders (SPO) in 2020, the unit has achieved the highest national rates of delivery, significantly protecting victims. Remarkably, 78% of offenders did not re-offend, and there was a 71% reduction in recorded stalking offences, thanks to thorough risk assessments and multi-agency collaboration. 
   
  The police team also supports higher-tier cases under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, maintaining a charge rate above 15%, surpassing national averages. Additionally, the unit has delivered training across the criminal justice sector, achieving over 90% satisfaction rates, which is crucial for keeping the system informed and effective. 
   
  Continuing to innovate, the team is exploring ways to enhance engagement with behavioural change initiatives for Stalking Protection Order respondents, furthering their impactful work in this critical area. 

• Jo Ritchie, Barnardo’s and Rose Brown, Avon and Somerset Police: In March 2020, police raised concerns about young people at risk of child exploitation in an area where street sex work is known to take place, prompting a large-scale investigation to disrupt a network of perpetrators and protect exploited children.
  
  This realisation led to the creation of "Night Light," a partnership project co-led by Jo from Barnardo’s and Rose, a Police Sex Work Liaison Officer. The initiative involves a small team from the police and partner agencies patrolling the area from 7pm to early morning, allowing the women to share vital safeguarding information. 
   
  In the past nine months, Night Light has interacted with the women 96 times, safeguarded 12 children, assisted in the remand of a potential serial rapist, and submitted intelligence on 32 children and young people. The project has also responded to increased reports of sexual violence from the women, leading to arrests and interventions with missing children and those at risk of grooming. Their goal is to empower street sex workers in safeguarding vulnerable children and preventing future exploitation. 

• Greig Watkins, British Transport Police: The Streamline matching system, built by Greig Watkins, and his BTP’s Visual Identification Bureau (VIB), is a fantastic innovation that addresses the challenges of isolated investigations in cases of VAWG. By creating a searchable database of suspect images and linking offences, the VIB is significantly enhancing the ability to identify and apprehend offenders. 
  
  The system not only aids in connecting crimes across different jurisdictions but also helps prioritise resources to tackle the most serious offenders. The collaboration with the Metropolitan Police to capture cross-border offences is a great example of how teamwork can lead to more effective policing. This proactive approach not only helps bring offenders to justice but also plays a crucial role in preventing further victimisation.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said:

“Today’s event was a powerful testament to the extraordinary commitment and dedication of campaigners,  police forces, and support organisations across the country. It is truly inspiring to see the innovative and impactful work being done to combat violence against women and girls.

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who are leading the charge, from individuals like Lisa Squire, who tirelessly advocates for safety and justice, to pioneering initiatives like the multi-agency stalking unit and the Night Light project. Your relentless efforts and remarkable achievements are making a real difference in the lives of women and girls.

“While we celebrate these successes, we must remember that our work is far from over. This government is treating violence against women and girls as a national emergency. That’s why we have committed to halving such violence within the next decade. We remain dedicated to working closely with law enforcement to transform our approach and to drive the changes that women and girls urgently need.”

The nominations were judged, together with police representatives, by a panel of experts working to tackle VAWG, including:

• Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales
• Abigail Ampofo, Interim CEO, Refuge
• Sara Kirpatrick, CEO, Welsh Women’s Aid and Jo McAthey, Training and Education lead, Women’s Aid
• Emma Lingley-Clark, Interim CEO, Suzy Lamplugh Trust
• Ellen Miller, CEO, SafeLives
• Natasha Rattu, Executive Director, Karma Nirvana
• Amelia Handy, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Rape Crisis

Emma Lingley-Clark, Interim CEO, Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: “It is vital that we champion good examples of policing so that other police forces can follow suit and learn from best practice.

“At the Trust, we work with the NPCC and local police forces to improve their response to stalking and ensure victims get the support and justice they deserve. Good policing can transform a victim’s experience of the criminal justice system, and these awards are a crucial initiative for showcasing this.

“We were delighted to be involved with the judging process of the VAWG police awards to ensure that new initiatives truly reflect the lived experience of the victims we speak to on a daily basis. We very much hope that this event will drive innovation and improve the national police response to victims of all forms of violence against women and girls, which is so urgently needed.”