Response to new national centre for violence against women and girls, and public protection

SafeLives welcomes the Government’s commitment to improving the policing response to violence against women and girls (VAWG). We hope this new centre is backed by significant additional new funding and we are pleased to see the ambition to further professionalise the police response, which should lead to a more consistent, coordinated and effective approach to tackling the devastating impact of VAWG.

Through Domestic Abuse Matters, developed in partnership with the College of Policing, we have trained over 70,000 police officers and staff in domestic abuse response, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to improve victim engagement and pursue domestic abuse perpetrators effectively. We know that when officers receive high-quality, evidence-based training and work alongside independent specialist services, survivor outcomes improve.

We want to see that partnership with specialist domestic abuse services continue – that collaborative input is vital.  We’d love to see input and leadership within the Centre from someone seconded from the domestic abuse and VAWG sector, who can bring a profound understanding of the realities faced by agencies and services working with the police as part of a joined-up response.  Our work to date has already included the voices of victims and survivors, many of whom are professionals, including police officers themselves.

For truly meaningful change, we also urge the Centre to deeply integrate the experiences and expertise of adult and child survivors—especially those from minoritised and marginalised communities—into policing practices at every level. This is essential to avoid repeating past failures and ensure all survivors receive the support and protection they need. By embedding these diverse experiences and voices directly into training and operational protocols, the Centre can foster a more inclusive and effective approach to tackling VAWG.

We also recognise public protection is a broad area that encompasses numerous priorities. And we’d like to understand how VAWG fits within this larger framework. It’s essential to ensure that resources and attention are appropriately allocated.

We want to see the Centre not only setting national standards but doing so in a holistic and informed approach that includes the expertise of specialist services. This alignment is crucial if we are to truly transform the way we support victims and tackle these pervasive crimes, properly holding those who perpetrate them to account.

We stand ready to support the National Centre in ensuring every officer – from frontline responders to senior leadership – understands their role in tackling VAWG. This is not just about policing but about a cultural shift in how these crimes are understood and responded to across the entire system. 

We hope this Centre will bring the sustained, coordinated approach that victims and survivors deserve.