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The UK government has committed to establishing specialist teams dedicated to investigating rape and sexual offences within every police force across England and Wales by the year 2029. This initiative forms part of a broader, long-postponed strategy designed to reduce violence against women and girls by half over the next decade. The forthcoming plan includes funding for covert operations targeting online harassment and a wider introduction of domestic abuse protection orders.
These specialist teams will consist of officers trained specifically in handling rape and sexual offence cases. While over half of the police forces already employ such teams, the government aims for every force to have dedicated units by 2029. Training will focus on equipping staff with the skills to understand both the perspectives of abusers and those affected by their crimes. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasized the government’s commitment, stating, “This government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency,” and stressed the determination to reduce such crimes significantly.
Additionally, the strategy will expand the use of domestic abuse protection orders throughout England and Wales, following successful trials over the past year. These orders prevent individuals from contacting victims, entering their homes, or sharing harmful content online. They can also be applied in cases involving coercive or controlling behaviour, and violating these orders is a criminal offence. The government is also allocating nearly £2 million to support undercover police officers working to apprehend perpetrators who target women and girls online.
The publication of this strategy has faced multiple delays, originally expected in the spring. Previously, a report highlighted that more than a quarter of police forces had yet to put in place basic policies for investigating sexual offences, while crimes motivated by sexual intent against women in public spaces remain widespread. The report called for urgent interventions to tackle these issues. Ahead of the announcement, concerns were voiced by chairs of three Commons select committees about the repeated postponements. Central to the strategy is a focus on changing attitudes among boys and young men, with the plan revolving around three main objectives: preventing radicalisation, stopping abusers, and supporting victims. Some survivors of domestic abuse have expressed that decisive action is now essential, emphasizing that these measures must be implemented promptly
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