Violence against women and girls in the United Kingdom has reached a tipping point. On December 13, 2025, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a sweeping set of reforms aimed at tackling what she called a “national emergency.” The new measures, which include the nationwide deployment of specialist rape and sex offences investigators and the rollout of domestic abuse protection orders, are designed to address the persistent epidemic of violence that has left millions of women feeling unsafe in their own homes and communities. The urgency of these reforms comes as statistics reveal that over 1.6 million women in the UK experience domestic abuse every year, underscoring the magnitude of the crisis.
According to Metro, the government’s long-awaited strategy on violence against women and girls (VAWG) is set to be published next week, following months of anticipation and criticism over delays. The announcement was made just ahead of the release of this strategy, which ministers have pledged will halve violence against women and girls within the next decade. The plan, as outlined by Mahmood and her colleagues, seeks to overhaul the current system, placing survivors’ safety and dignity at the forefront of the justice process.
At the heart of the government’s initiative is the establishment of specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams in every police force across England and Wales by 2029. These dedicated teams will replace the current system, where detectives without specialist training often handle complex and sensitive cases, sometimes leaving dangerous offenders on the streets. The move responds to long-standing criticism over inadequate investigations and inconsistent responses from police forces, which campaigners have described as a “postcode lottery.”
Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, told Metro, “We welcome the news that specialist rape and sexual offence investigators will be established in every police force. All survivors deserve care, support, and sensitivity when they take the courageous step to report what happened to them to the police, and to see their case investigated properly and thoroughly for the greatest chance of accessing justice. However, we are concerned that this may not be fully in place until 2029. In the meantime, survivors may often receive an inconsistent response depending on the force area they live in – this is not acceptable.”
Alongside the introduction of specialist investigators, the government will roll out domestic abuse protection orders nationwide. These orders, which have been trialled over the past year, will allow courts to set conditions for as long as necessary to protect victims from all forms of domestic abuse, including economic and coercive control, stalking, and so-called “honour”-based violence. Perpetrators who breach these orders could face up to five years in prison and may be subjected to electronic tagging, exclusion zones, or mandatory behaviour change programmes.
The impact of these measures is deeply personal for many survivors. Rhianon Bragg, who was stalked and held at gunpoint for eight hours by her ex-partner Gareth Wyn Jones in 2019, told Metro, “All victims should be able to live fear free, not just in their homes, but in their communities and further afield. The liberty of victims should never have been restricted to favour the perceived rights of perpetrators. It’s right that there aren’t time limits imposed, the current system too frequently offers protection for only a limited period. As a victim, I lived the reality of the clock ticking, a terrifying countdown to my abuser being unrestricted, a situation where no protective measures would have been in place. Electronic tagging was vital, so the perpetrator’s whereabouts was known to the authorities, which was key for our safety.”
For others, the absence of robust protections has been devastating. Roann Court, who witnessed her mother Claire Mashall being killed by former partner Benjamin Cooper, described the trauma she continues to endure following Cooper’s release from prison. “I’ve been told that I am not allowed to know that information because they have to protect him and he has a right to privacy and he has a right to carry on with his life,” Roann told Metro. “He is basically allowed to get on with his life. There is nothing stopping him from meeting someone new and starting a family again, getting a job, going on holiday – there is literally nothing stopping him. Whereas me – yes I have a family – but I definitely feel trapped. If I go out – I’m not allowed to know what he looks like – so I’m left thinking ‘could he be here’?”
The new orders are intended to “flip the dynamic,” in the words of Minister for Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips. Rather than victims feeling trapped by the threat of their abusers, perpetrators will now face significant restrictions, with courts empowered to set exclusion zones, curfews, and other safeguards. Diana Parkes CBE, co-founder of The Joanna Simpson Foundation, said, “Victims have carried the burden of keeping themselves safe while perpetrators moved freely for too long. These orders are the robust action that can save lives.”
However, challenges remain. According to The Guardian, there is not thought to be any new additional funding for the specialist units as of December 13, 2025, raising concerns about the capacity of police forces to implement the reforms effectively and consistently. Campaigners also worry that until the measures are fully in place by 2029, victims will continue to face inconsistent levels of support and protection depending on where they live.
Additional plans outlined by Mahmood include stripping foreign sex offenders of refugee protections to expedite deportation, and exploring ways to widen disclosure schemes so that more offenders’ past convictions can be released to partners on request. The government’s approach is comprehensive, aiming not only to protect victims but also to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent future harm.
Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, emphasized the significance of the upcoming VAWG strategy, stating, “Amid the epidemic of VAWG, survivors have been waiting far too long for meaningful action. The VAWG Strategy is not only long overdue – it is a defining test of this Government’s legacy in creating lasting change for women. At a time when specialist support services are facing immense demand, Refuge has been waiting with bated breath to see how the Government intends to honour its pledge to halve VAWG within the decade. Tackling VAWG demands bold action, and the Government must seize this moment. Women and girls’ futures depend on it.”
The reforms come in the wake of Metro’s campaign, This Is Not Right, launched on November 25, 2024, to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women. The campaign, in partnership with Women’s Aid, has brought national attention to the scale of the crisis and the need for urgent action.
As the Home Office prepares to publish its violence against women and girls strategy, all eyes will be on whether these bold promises translate into real change for survivors. The stakes could not be higher; for millions of women and girls across the UK, the ability to live free from fear and violence hangs in the balance.
