Crimes related to domestic abuse are among the greatest threats women face, according to the first ever country-wide evaluation of threats to women.
As violence against women and girls (VAWG) is now prioritised alongside terrorism and serious organised crime as a national threat, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) conducted a strategic threat and risk assessment into VAWG.
“Forces will use the [evaluation] to effectively target their finite resources and decide how many officers will be needed to tackle the rising rates of violent and sexual crimes faced by women,” said the NPCC. “It will also be used to identify where they should focus specialist investigators, victim support and crime-fighting technology to tackle the problem.”
The other offences identified in the assessment as carrying the biggest threat to women are rape and serious sexual offences, child sexual abuse and exploitation, and tech-enabled VAWG such as online stalking and harassment
The NPCC has shared the in-depth, 230-page intelligence document with all forces. It will not be made public because it contains sensitive information.
The assessment does not contain analysis on police-perpetrated VAWG because that has been conducted separately and a range of initiatives launched including tightening of vetting procedures and rooting out abusers.
