Whole-system approach to preventing sexually motivated crimes
By June 2026, building on the wider violence against women and girls strategy, the Government should publish a comprehensive, multi-year and whole-system prevention strategy, which specifically targets the perpetrators of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. This strategy should: a. coordinate activity aimed at preventing these crimes and reducing reoffending; b. coordinate and direct work to encourage reporting; c. be based on clear expectations and comprehensive stakeholder engagement; d. adopt a public health approach; e. provide clarity on roles and responsibilities; f. have secure multi-year funding; g. include a robust evaluation mechanism.
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Jess Phillips made a written statement to Parliament (HCWS1122) on 2 December 2025 accepting all 13 Part 2 recommendations, announcing £13.1 million in funding and pledging to halve violence against women and girls within a decade (Written Statement HCWS1122, 2 December 2025).
- The government published a new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in December 2025 (VAWG Strategy, Home Office, December 2025).
- No specific public evidence of a comprehensive whole-system prevention strategy specifically targeting perpetrators of sexually motivated crimes in public spaces being published as of March 2026.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedParliamentary Under-Secretary of State Jess Phillips made a written statement to Parliament (HCWS1122) on 2 December 2025 accepting all 13 Part 2 recommendations. The government announced £13.1 million in funding to deliver a coordinated approach through the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, and committed to putting police vetting standards on a statutory footing to exclude those with cautions or convictions for violence against women and girls offences. The government pledged to halve violence against women and girls within a decade and to embed expertise from programmes such as Operation Soteria and Project Vigilant across police forces.