Statement on Home Office plans to restore confidence in policing

We are pleased to see the Home Office’s announcement on upcoming reforms to boost confidence in the police and the systems holding them to account. The commitment to setting up a dedicated Police Performance Unit is a positive step that could improve public trust and support the Government’s ambition to halve Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

With the current focus on improving compliance to the Victims’ Code, the Police Performance Unit could play an integral role in monitoring how police uphold these rights, leading the way for other criminal justice agencies. This is an opportunity to make sure that victims and survivors are heard, respected, and supported every step of the way.

We welcome the Home Office’s commitment to harnessing national data to monitor police response times. For this to build confidence, the data must be clear, transparent, and publicly accessible. It’s essential that this includes not only variations in response times to domestic abuse callouts but also cases where callouts are not responded to. Taking full accountability will help to drive meaningful change and rebuild trust in the police.

While improved data monitoring is vital, it is equally important to invest in workforce development and training to ensure police officers understand the realities of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Programmes like DA Matters and cultural competency training have already made a difference in improving police responses. We urge the Home Office to continue investing in these initiatives and ensure they are embedded across all forces.

To gain the trust of every survivor, the Government must also deepen partnerships with specialist victim services, including community-based Idvas and ‘by and for’ services.

Only by working together can we ensure that no survivor is left behind.