Violence Against Women and Girls

Over the course of 2021, the issue of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in London has attracted national attention, following the murders of Sarah Everard, Bibaa Henry, Nicole Smallman, Sabina Nessa and many other women in the capital.

The Police and Crime Committee launched its investigation in response to the renewed focus on VAWG following these high-profile murders and the increase in reports of domestic abuse, sexual violence and rape.

It examined the detail behind the rise in reports of VAWG, support for victims, and the way in which partner organisations are working to prevent it; and explored what more is needed from the Mayor, the Metropolitan Police and other criminal justice partners to effectively tackle VAWG. The Committee also considered the work taking place to rebuild trust in the police.

The report makes the following 14 recommendations:

Recommendation 1

MOPAC must work with the Met to prioritise action to improve the way VAWG data is gathered, recorded and analysed, including by race and other protected characteristics.

Recommendation 2

MOPAC and the Met should carry out a dip sample of domestic abuse incidents to ascertain how many incidents result in multiple arrests, and to determine how widespread the issue of counter-allegations may be.

Recommendation 3

MOPAC must commission specific research to examine the barriers that prevent victims from reporting VAWG offences, to better understand the scale of under-reporting in London.

Recommendation 4

The Met must listen to and learn from the conversation now taking place on VAWG. It must actively seek and respond to feedback from partners and communities on its VAWG action plan, particularly Black and minority ethnic women and organisations.

Recommendation 5

The Mayor must set clear and measurable VAWG targets in both his Police and Crime Plan and renewed VAWG strategy; and detail the resources needed to ensure he is able to deliver on his VAWG commitments.

Recommendation 6

MOPAC must demonstrate, by September 2022, that it has robust performance monitoring in place to hold the Met to account on its work to increase trust and confidence.

Recommendation 7

MOPAC must put in place, by September 2022, a forum to ensure regular engagement with organisations working with VAWG victims in order to hold the Mayor to account on his VAWG commitments.

Recommendation 8

The Mayor must commit funding to ensure that specialist support services are available and accessible for every woman and girl in London that needs them; and end the postcode-lottery access to specialist services.

Recommendation 9

The Mayor must demonstrate how he is working with the Government, and using his commissioning powers, to ensure long-term funding to provide specialist services with the certainty they need to provide support to victims.

Recommendation 10

The Mayor must work with the specialist VAWG sector and use his commissioning powers to ensure smaller ‘by and for’ services are able to access funding, and are supported through the procurement process.

Recommendation 11

The Mayor’s forthcoming VAWG strategy must strengthen MOPAC’s commitment to provide wraparound support for victims of VAWG with no recourse to public funds. This should include both immigration and intensive resettlement support.

Recommendation 12

The Mayor’s refreshed VAWG strategy must include an emphasis on services for children affected by sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Recommendation 13

The Mayor must work with specialist VAWG partners to determine what more is needed to increase and improve the provision of programmes for VAWG perpetrators in the capital.

Recommendation 14

The Mayor must use his influence, and work with partners, to lobby for investment in education resources and training for schools to provide programmes that promote healthy relationships, and support children and young people affected by VAWG, including early intervention.