The UK government has announced a comprehensive strategy to combat violence against women and girls, pledging to establish specialist rape and sexual offence teams across all police forces in England and Wales by 2029. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled the long-awaited plan, which aims to halve such violence within a decade.

Specialist Teams and Protection Orders

The strategy includes the introduction of domestic abuse protection orders, which have been trialed in regions such as Greater Manchester and parts of London. These orders, enforceable in both civil and criminal courts, can impose sanctions like electronic tagging and exclusion zones on offenders. Breaching these orders could result in up to five years of imprisonment.

Mahmood emphasized the government's commitment to addressing violence against women, stating, "This government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency. For too long, these crimes have been considered a fact of life. That's not good enough. We will halve it in a decade."

Online Harassment and Training Initiatives

In addition to the specialist teams, the government will invest nearly £2 million in undercover online units to tackle internet harassment. The strategy is partly a response to Operation Soteria, which highlighted deficiencies in how sexual violence reports are handled. Training will focus on dispelling "rape mythology" and addressing cultural issues that lead to victim-blaming.

Despite the ambitious plans, there are concerns about funding and the speed of implementation. The Guardian reports that no additional funding will be provided for these units, requiring police forces to reallocate existing budgets. The National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection, a £13 million project, will support these efforts.

Delays and Political Context

The announcement follows repeated delays in publishing the strategy, initially expected in the spring. The delay has drawn criticism from various quarters, including chairs of Commons select committees. The Labour Party's manifesto had previously pledged to use all government tools to address the root causes of abuse and violence.

The strategy also aims to change attitudes among boys and young men, focusing on preventing radicalization and supporting victims. Some domestic abuse survivors have expressed urgency, stating that the time for talking is over and that swift implementation is necessary.