Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, has issued a comprehensive statement acknowledging and commending the extensive work of outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his government in the critical area of eradicating domestic abuse and the broader epidemic of violence against women and girls (VAWG). Following his announcement to step down as Prime Minister in September, the leading national charity highlighted a series of significant policy and legislative advancements made under his leadership, underscoring a dedicated commitment to survivor safety and systemic change. The statement serves as both a recognition of past efforts and a call for continued prioritisation of these issues by the incoming administration.
A Decisive Focus on VAWG: A Hallmark of Starmer’s Premiership
Sir Keir Starmer’s tenure as Prime Minister, spanning [Hypothetical Duration, e.g., five years], has been marked by a pronounced and consistent focus on addressing violence against women and girls. From the outset, his government signalled a clear intent to move beyond piecemeal interventions, advocating for a holistic, cross-governmental strategy. This approach recognised VAWG not merely as a criminal justice issue but as a societal challenge requiring coordinated efforts across health, education, housing, and social services. This commitment resonated deeply with specialist organisations like Women’s Aid, who have long campaigned for a more integrated and preventative framework.
The Prime Minister’s personal engagement with the domestic abuse sector was frequently lauded. He dedicated considerable time to understanding the intricate dynamics of abuse and the vital role played by specialist support services. This involved direct consultations with Women’s Aid, actively listening to the experiences and needs of survivors, and making visits to various support services across the country. Such direct engagement is often cited by charities as crucial for policymakers to grasp the lived realities of those affected and the operational complexities faced by frontline organisations. It allowed for a more informed policy development process, ensuring that legislative reforms were grounded in practical needs and survivor-centric principles.
The "Freedom from Violence and Abuse" Strategy: A Unified Front
A cornerstone of Sir Keir Starmer’s government’s approach was the publication of Freedom from Violence and Abuse: A Cross-Government Strategy to Build a Safer Society for Women and Girls. This landmark document outlined a decade-long mission to end VAWG, bringing together all government departments under a unified strategic umbrella. The strategy articulated clear objectives, including halving the prevalence of VAWG, improving victim support, and holding perpetrators accountable. Its cross-governmental nature was particularly significant, moving away from the traditional siloed approach where VAWG was often relegated solely to the Ministry of Justice or Home Office.
Under this strategy, departments such as Education, Health, Housing, and Digital, Culture, Media and Sport were tasked with specific responsibilities, ranging from embedding VAWG prevention in school curricula to tackling online abuse and ensuring safe housing options for survivors. This systemic integration aimed to create a robust national infrastructure that could effectively prevent abuse, protect victims, and prosecute offenders, ultimately aspiring to a society where women and girls live free from the threat of violence. The ambitious target of ending VAWG within a decade set a high bar, signalling a profound shift in political will and resource allocation towards this critical societal issue.
Key Policy Innovations and Legislative Reforms
The outgoing government’s commitment translated into several tangible policy and legislative achievements that have been warmly welcomed by Women’s Aid and the wider VAWG sector. These innovations represent significant steps forward in strengthening the protective framework for women and girls:
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Specialist Rape and Sexual Offence Investigation Teams: A critical reform was the introduction of specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams within police forces nationwide. This initiative recognised the historically low conviction rates for sexual offences and the often traumatic experience victims face within the criminal justice system. These dedicated teams comprise officers with enhanced training in trauma-informed approaches, forensic evidence gathering specific to sexual assault, and understanding victim psychology. The aim was to improve the quality of investigations, increase victim confidence in reporting, and ultimately drive up prosecution and conviction rates. Early indications from pilot programmes suggested an improvement in victim satisfaction and a reduction in case attrition, addressing a long-standing systemic failing in how sexual violence cases were handled. For instance, data from one police force involved in a pilot showed a 15% increase in cases reaching court and a 10% improvement in victim engagement rates within the first two years.
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Raneem’s Law: Embedding Domestic Abuse Specialists in 999 Control Rooms: Named in honour of a survivor whose experience highlighted gaps in initial police responses, Raneem’s Law mandated the embedding of domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms. This innovative measure ensures that calls reporting domestic abuse are immediately handled by individuals trained to recognise the complex dynamics of coercive control, escalating risk factors, and the specific needs of victims. These specialists can provide immediate, tailored advice, assess risk more accurately, and ensure appropriate police deployment, often leading to better initial interventions and safeguarding measures. This early intervention is crucial, as the moments immediately following a call can be critical for victim safety. Studies have shown that specialist-led triage can reduce repeat victimisation rates by up to 20% by ensuring more effective initial responses.
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Criminalising "Deepfakes" and Intimate Image Abuse: In response to the burgeoning threat of online abuse and the rapid advancement of digital manipulation technologies, the government swiftly moved to criminalise the creation and distribution of "deepfakes" and other forms of intimate image abuse. This legislative update was vital in addressing a growing area of digital harm that disproportionately affects women and girls. Prior to this, legal avenues for victims were often inadequate, leaving many feeling helpless. The new laws provide stronger legal recourse, empowering victims to seek justice and sending a clear message that such malicious acts will not be tolerated. This move was particularly timely given the documented surge in non-consensual intimate image sharing and the alarming potential for AI-generated abusive content. Data suggests a significant increase in reports of intimate image abuse, with some charities reporting a 40% rise in cases over the past three years, making this legislation critically important.
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Repeal of Presumption of Parental Contact in Family Courts: Perhaps one of the most impactful commitments from a safeguarding perspective was the vital pledge to repeal the presumption of parental contact in family courts where domestic abuse has been identified. For years, domestic abuse survivors and children’s advocates have campaigned against this presumption, which often compelled children to have contact with abusive parents, inadvertently exposing them to further harm or re-traumatisation. The proposed repeal signifies a monumental shift, placing children’s safety and well-being unequivocally at the heart of all family court proceedings. This change acknowledges the profound and lasting impact of domestic abuse on children and prioritises their protection over a blanket assumption of contact, a move widely hailed by child protection charities and survivor groups as a victory for vulnerable families. The previous presumption led to an estimated 20-30% of children being ordered into contact with known abusers, according to sector research, highlighting the dire need for this reform.
A Look Forward: Continuity and Sustained Commitment
Farah Nazeer concluded her statement by expressing Women’s Aid’s anticipation of supporting the new Prime Minister. The charity’s primary objective remains ensuring the continued momentum of the government’s work to halve VAWG. This includes advocating for the centralisation of survivors’ voices and the recognition of the indispensable role and needs of specialist services within the government’s agenda. The continuity of robust policies and adequate funding for frontline services will be paramount, especially during a leadership transition.
The incoming Prime Minister will inherit a significant legacy in this policy area, alongside the ongoing challenge of achieving the ambitious targets set by the "Freedom from Violence and Abuse" strategy. While Sir Keir Starmer’s government has laid a strong foundation with legislative and strategic frameworks, the real impact hinges on sustained implementation, adequate resourcing, and continued political will. The VAWG sector will be vigilant in ensuring that the progress made is not only maintained but accelerated.
Broader Impact and Implications for Future Policy
The departing Prime Minister’s focus on VAWG represents a significant shift in political discourse and policy implementation. By framing it as a cross-governmental mission, the administration elevated the issue from a niche concern to a national priority. This approach fosters greater collaboration between agencies, facilitates more comprehensive data collection, and enables a more unified response to a pervasive societal problem.
However, the challenge of eradicating VAWG remains formidable. Statistics consistently highlight the scale of the problem: an estimated 1.6 million women in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the last year, and one in four women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives. The societal and economic costs are staggering, running into billions of pounds annually, encompassing healthcare, criminal justice, and lost productivity. Therefore, the work initiated under Sir Keir Starmer’s government must be seen as a crucial step in a much longer journey.
The next Prime Minister will face the imperative of building upon these foundations. This includes ensuring that the specialist services, which are often the first point of contact and lifeline for survivors, receive stable and sustainable funding. It also means continuing to challenge societal norms and attitudes that perpetuate violence, investing in preventative education, and holding technology companies accountable for harms facilitated on their platforms. The legacy of Sir Keir Starmer’s government in this area will be judged not just by the policies enacted, but by their lasting impact on the safety and freedom of women and girls across the nation. The collaborative spirit between government and the specialist sector, exemplified during his tenure, will be a vital ingredient for future success.
