Women’s charity calls for ‘overhaul of the system’ to combat ‘national emergency’ of violence against women

A South London charity which works with victims of domestic abuse is calling for an “overhaul of the system” to tackle the “cyclical” nature of violence against women.

On Tuesday police chiefs warned that two million women are estimated to be victims of violence each year in an epidemic so serious it amounts to a “national emergency”.

Crimes including stalking, harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence affect one in 12 women in England and Wales, with the number of recorded offences growing by 37 per cent in the past five years.

The figures have been revealed in the first national analysis of the scale of violence against women and girls (VAWG) by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

Pecan, a charity based in Peckham High Street, runs a woman’s service across Southwark and Lewisham. 

Women’s service manager, Cat Millar, said: “Violence against women is a systemic issue. 

“To be safe, women need to be able to access affordable housing, universal credit and paid work, even if they have children.”

The NCCP report estimates at least two million women will be victims of VAWG each year, and 2.3million adults in England and Wales will be a perpetrator of VAWG every year. A woman is killed by a man every three days in the UK, the report states.

Ms Millar said: “Our court system and policing do not help women who are victims of domestic abuse. 

“Many victims drop their court cases or do not report it because of delays or being pressured to provide statements and evidence against their abuser – even if they are still living with them.”

Focus on VAWG intensified after the 2021 rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer, Wayne Couzens, who had previously been investigated for indecent exposure. An official report found wide-scale failings within the police force.

Sophie Francis-Cansfield, head of external affairs at Women’s Aid, echoed Ms Millar’s concerns, saying that while the figures released by the NPCC were “alarming”, the issue was “much larger than the data shows”.

Pecan’s women’s service offers six months to a year of one-to-one advocacy, which includes housing and employment support, wrap-around care, childcare support and counselling.

Ms Millar described the nature of violence against women as “cyclical”.

The 34-year-old, who has worked for the charity for five years, said: “Our economy makes it harder for victims to leave their abusers because victims have to have their partner’s details to apply for Universal Credit.

“Many women go to prison for using violence against their abusers as a last resort.”

According to Pecan, 53 per cent of women in prison report having experienced domestic violence, with even more reporting child abuse.

Ms Millar said: “This creates a cyclical issue – when women are sent to prison they lose their benefits and their job. When they come out they are likely to be homeless and vulnerable to further violence.

At the same time their children are going through the care system – statistically 35 per cent of care leavers go to prison.”

A woman the charity worked with in Lewisham had been trafficked to the UK by an abuser who starved her and monitored her leaving the house.

Ms Millar said: “She was an ‘illegal’ citizen and he threatened to reveal this if she didn’t do exactly as he demanded. 

“She eventually attacked him and was sent to prison for three months – but nothing happened to him. 

“When she was released she was street homeless and without legal documentation to be in the country. 

“We helped her with housing and got her Right to Remain papers together.”

Following the report on Tuesday, police say VAWG will be treated as seriously as terrorism. In a statement, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley promised better training for officers and said reforms were already bringing more offenders to justice.

Moving forward, Ms Millar said: “There need to be routes out for women. We need changes to laws, attitudes and beliefs and robust investment in state social protection before we will see improvements.”

Pictured top: Met police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley (Picture: The Met)