Following the announcement of Sir Keir Starmer’s impending resignation as Prime Minister in September, Women’s Aid, a leading national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, has issued a comprehensive statement acknowledging and commending his government’s significant contributions to eradicating domestic abuse and the wider epidemic of violence against women and girls (VAWG). Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, highlighted a series of legislative and strategic advancements made under Starmer’s leadership, underscoring a commitment to survivor-centric approaches and cross-governmental collaboration. The acknowledgement comes at a pivotal time for VAWG policy, as the nation prepares for a new political landscape while grappling with persistent challenges in safeguarding women and girls.
A Decade of Dedication: Starmer’s Lifelong Commitment to VAWG
Farah Nazeer’s statement began by extending gratitude to Sir Keir Starmer for his “lifelong work to tackle VAWG,” emphasizing his consistent engagement with the specialist domestic abuse sector. This engagement included direct collaboration with Women’s Aid, active listening to the testimonies of survivors, and visits to frontline services across the country. Such direct interaction is often cited by charities as crucial for policymakers to genuinely understand the complex realities faced by victims and the operational needs of support services. This collaborative spirit culminated in the publication of Freedom from Violence and Abuse: A Cross-Government Strategy to Build a Safer Society for Women and Girls. This landmark strategy aimed to embed a whole-government approach, uniting various departments under a singular, ambitious mission to halve VAWG within a decade – a target that has been central to the government’s agenda.
The strategy itself represented a significant shift, moving beyond siloed departmental initiatives to foster a more integrated and comprehensive response to VAWG. It recognized that issues such as domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking, and harassment are not isolated incidents but interconnected manifestations of gender inequality, requiring coordinated action across justice, health, education, and social services. The long-term vision articulated in the strategy sought to address not only the immediate aftermath of violence but also its root causes, aiming for preventative measures and systemic change.
Key Legislative and Policy Achievements
Women’s Aid specifically highlighted several critical policy and legislative introductions under Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership, which they believe have had a tangible positive impact on survivors’ safety and justice. These measures represent a concerted effort to modernize legal frameworks, enhance police response, and reform family court procedures.
Strengthening Law Enforcement and Justice
One of the significant achievements noted was the introduction of specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams within the police force. For years, victim advocacy groups have pointed to alarmingly low conviction rates for rape and sexual offences, often attributed to a lack of specialist training, resources, and a victim-blaming culture within the criminal justice system. The establishment of dedicated teams, comprising officers with specific expertise in trauma-informed interviewing, evidence collection, and understanding of consent, aimed to address these systemic failings. These teams are designed to provide a more sensitive and effective response to survivors, improve case quality, and ultimately increase prosecution and conviction rates. Data from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police forces has consistently shown that attrition rates for sexual offences remain high, with many cases not progressing beyond the initial report. Specialist teams are a direct response to calls for a more robust and empathetic investigative approach, vital for rebuilding trust with victims.
Another crucial development was the implementation of Raneem’s Law, which embeds domestic abuse specialists directly into 999 control rooms. Named in memory of a domestic abuse victim, this law represents a proactive step to improve the initial police response to domestic abuse calls. Historically, 999 operators, while trained in emergency response, may not always have the specific expertise to identify the nuances of coercive control, escalating danger, or the psychological impact of abuse. By integrating specialist staff, Raneem’s Law ensures that calls related to domestic abuse are handled by individuals trained to recognize patterns of abuse, assess risk accurately, and provide immediate, informed advice and support, potentially linking callers directly to specialist services. This early intervention can be critical in preventing further harm and ensuring survivors receive appropriate and timely support. Research indicates that the initial contact with emergency services significantly impacts a survivor’s willingness to engage with the justice system and access support.
Addressing Digital Abuse
The government also took decisive action against the rapidly evolving threat of digital abuse by criminalizing the creation and sharing of "deepfakes" and intimate image abuse. The proliferation of artificial intelligence technologies has made it increasingly easy to create realistic but fabricated explicit images and videos of individuals without their consent. This form of abuse, often targeting women, causes profound psychological distress, reputational damage, and can have devastating real-world consequences. Prior to this legislation, existing laws often struggled to adequately address the specific harm caused by deepfakes, as they were not always considered "real" images in the traditional sense. The criminalization filled a critical legal gap, sending a strong message that such exploitative digital manipulation is a serious offence. Intimate image abuse, commonly known as "revenge porn," had already seen legislative attention, but the new measures broadened protections, acknowledging the growing sophistication and pervasiveness of technology-facilitated abuse. Statistics from charities like Revenge Porn Helpline show a consistent rise in reports of non-consensual sharing of intimate images, highlighting the urgent need for robust legal frameworks.
Safeguarding Children and Survivors in Family Courts
Perhaps one of the most significant and welcomed commitments from Women’s Aid was the repeal of the presumption of parental contact from family courts. This policy change addresses a long-standing concern among domestic abuse charities and legal experts. Previously, family courts often operated under a legal presumption that it was generally in a child’s best interests to have contact with both parents, even in cases where one parent had a history of domestic abuse. This presumption frequently put children and their non-abusive parents at risk, forcing survivors to engage in contact arrangements with their abuser, which could perpetuate control and abuse. Women’s Aid, alongside other organizations, has consistently campaigned against this presumption, citing numerous cases where children were exposed to harm or trauma as a result.
The repeal signifies a profound shift towards prioritizing the safety and well-being of children and the non-abusive parent above all else in family court proceedings involving domestic abuse. It means that judges are no longer automatically starting from a position of assuming contact is beneficial but must instead conduct a thorough risk assessment, placing the child’s safety and welfare at the heart of their decisions. This move is expected to empower survivors, reduce the risk of further abuse, and ensure that judicial decisions are genuinely trauma-informed and protective. The Family Justice Council’s own guidance and reports over the years have acknowledged the complexities and dangers of domestic abuse in family proceedings, making this legislative change a crucial step in aligning legal practice with best safeguarding principles.
The Broader Impact and Unfinished Business
Sir Keir Starmer’s government’s approach to VAWG was characterized by an ambition to halve incidents within a decade. This target, while challenging, provided a clear metric for progress and galvanized efforts across government departments. The Freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy laid out five key pillars: preventing VAWG from happening in the first place, supporting victims and survivors, pursuing perpetrators, strengthening the system, and driving change through data and evidence. Each of the legislative achievements highlighted by Women’s Aid directly contributed to one or more of these pillars.
However, the departure of a Prime Minister always raises questions about policy continuity and the future trajectory of such ambitious goals. While significant strides have been made, the "epidemic of violence against women and girls" remains a stark reality in the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 2.4 million adults aged 16 to 74 experienced domestic abuse in the last year (March 2022 to March 2023). Furthermore, police recorded 73,889 rapes and 205,860 sexual offences in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023, though only a fraction lead to charges or convictions. These figures underscore the monumental task that still lies ahead.
The specialist domestic abuse sector itself continues to face significant challenges, particularly regarding sustainable funding. While government strategies emphasize the importance of these services, many frontline organizations operate on precarious, short-term grants, leading to instability and an inability to meet the ever-increasing demand for support. Women’s Aid and other charities consistently advocate for long-term, ring-fenced funding to ensure the resilience and growth of these vital services.
Looking Ahead: The Call for Continuity
As the political landscape shifts, Women’s Aid reiterated its commitment to working with the incoming Prime Minister. Farah Nazeer stated, "We look forward to supporting the new Prime Minister to continue the government’s work to halve VAWG and to ensure that survivors’ voices, and the role and needs of specialist services, remain central to the government’s agenda." This statement serves as a clear call for the next administration to maintain the momentum and commitment demonstrated under Sir Keir Starmer.
The challenge for the new Prime Minister will be to not only uphold the existing commitments but also to build upon them, addressing areas where progress has been slower or where new threats to women and girls emerge. This will involve ensuring adequate resources are allocated to implement the Freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy effectively, strengthening accountability mechanisms for police and justice systems, and fostering a societal culture that rejects all forms of VAWG. The voices of survivors, who have been central to informing policy under Starmer’s government, must continue to guide future legislative and strategic decisions. The specialist sector, with its invaluable expertise and direct contact with those affected, will be indispensable in achieving the ambitious goal of a safer society for all women and girls in the UK. The legacy of Sir Keir Starmer’s government in this critical area will undoubtedly be measured by the sustained commitment of future administrations to these foundational efforts.
