In an unprecedent intervention, Government Tsars Dame Nicole Jacobs and Baroness Newlove have issued a stark warning to the Prime Minister that his personal commitment to tackle violence against women and girls will not succeed, unless urgent investment is provided at the Spending Review next week.
In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and Victims Commissioner for England and Wales expressed their growing concern that ‘funding cuts and scaled back ambition are leading to piecemeal policies’ and called for a ‘well-funded national approach to prevent and respond to abuse, violence, and exploitation of women and girls.’
This is the first time the two Commissioners have jointly written to the Prime Minister. With the pair stating that services supporting victims and survivors ‘are being pushed to the brink’ amid a lack of funding and rising demand.
“We all want to see the vision you set out – one where violence against women is stamped out everywhere – delivered upon. But right now, this is at risk,” the Commissioners write. “Following the same path as before will not give victims the confidence that justice will be served if they report a crime to the police.”
The joint letter also criticises recent proposals set out in the Sentencing Review that will see abusers released onto the street. The Commissioners argue that releasing offenders earlier, without the right safeguards in place, would “risk victims’ safety” and further erode trust in the justice system.
The Commissioners have urged the government to deliver ‘bold and ambitious investment’ in the Chancellors spending review next week – arguing that this funding would ensure we can “finally tackle the systemic stain of violence and abuse” and “build a criminal justice system that delivers for survivors every single time.”