VAWG services for diverse needs
Specialist services for Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) inadequately equipped to support all survivors, particularly those with diverse needs.
126 items
10 sources
1 inquiry
Source spread
Where this theme appears
VAWG services for diverse needs has been flagged across 10 independent accountability sources:
1 inquiry rec
8 PFD reports
84 committee recs
10 HMICFRS recs
7 IOPC recs
1 NAO rec
2 IMB reports
3 IMB recs
7 detention investigation recs
3 LGO/SPSO decisions
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
PFD Reports (8)
James Stokoe
Concerns: Mental Health Services lack formal mechanisms to consult carers/partners, potentially missing vital information that could inform risk assessments and identify domestic abuse, especially in elderly patients.
Overdue
Anne-Marie Katherine Ellement
Concerns: The Armed Forces' victim support code lacks specific provision for serious sexual assault victims within the military, and staff managing suicide vulnerability risk assessments receive insufficient training and follow-up.
Overdue
Jade Rayner
Concerns: Police failed to record and investigate a sexual offence allegation against a vulnerable patient, denying her victim support. There was also a lack of clear multi-agency strategy for complex cases involving trauma and alcohol misuse.
Response (Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership): Two task and finish groups will review Section 42 and Multi Agency Adults at Risk System processes, with learning to be shared with the Greater Manchester Quality Board and commissioners …
Response (Greater Manchester Police): GMP has implemented the vulnerability assessment framework to identify and assess risk factors, and officers now record care plans after safe and well interviews with vulnerable adults.
Responded
Emma Day
Concerns: The Gaia Centre did not record the details of protective orders, Lambeth Children’s Social Care lacked knowledge of the orders, and the Metropolitan Police Service's Merlin Report did not mention the Non-Molestation Order, highlighting a potential system failure regarding protective orders and information sharing; the Child Maintenance Service of Department of Work and Pensions also exhibited a system failure in handling reports of domestic violence.
Response (Metropolitan Police Service): The Metropolitan Police Service now records non-molestation orders on both the Police National Computer (PNC) and Criminal Intelligence System (CRIMINT), ensuring they are identified during background checks in safeguarding incidents; …
Overdue
Jessica Laverack
Concerns: The report identifies a need for recognition of the link between domestic abuse and suicide, lack of systems to care for vulnerable individuals not meeting 'high risk' criteria, and a lack of information sharing between agencies.
Response (Ministry of Justice): The Ministry of Justice is working with the Home Office to prioritise commitments in the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan, including investing over £230 million in tackling domestic abuse. They have …
Response (Home Office): The Home Office acknowledges the report and states that officials will provide a full response by the stated deadline.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office highlights the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, its statutory guidance published in July 2022, and the cross-Government Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan published in March. The plan includes funding, …
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Home Office on the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan and will include measures to tackle domestic abuse in the national …
Responded
Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem
Concerns: Severe understaffing in the domestic abuse unit meant cases were not investigated, leaving high-risk victims vulnerable to ongoing violence and threats due to a lack of effective police action.
Response (West Midlands Police): West Midlands Police restructured the Public Protection Department in 2019, increasing staff allocated to DA investigation and replacing Domestic Abuse Teams with Adult Investigation and Adult Complex Investigation Teams; they …
Response (West Midlands Police): West Midlands Police restructured the Public Protection Department in 2019, increasing staff allocated to DA investigation and replacing Domestic Abuse Teams with Adult Investigation and Adult Complex Investigation Teams; they …
Response (Home Office): The Home Office highlights the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan, committing to assist in funding the rollout of Domestic Abuse Matters training and funding the …
Response (College of Policing): The College of Policing has created a 'DA Matters' training package for police responders focusing on coercive control, delivered by DA charities, and has rolled out the Domestic Abuse Risk …
Response (West Midlands Police): West Midlands Police is publishing a revised Domestic Abuse policy with an initial response action checklist and will launch it with a tailored communication and briefing package; they have also …
Response (West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner): The Police and Crime Commissioner acknowledges the coroner's report and highlights ongoing efforts by West Midlands Police to address domestic abuse, while also noting resource constraints and the impact of …
Responded
Sylvia Crowther
Concerns: Police failed to seek the victim's views on bail conditions for her husband, as required by law, and she was not informed of these conditions, missing an opportunity to consider alternative support.
Response (Bedfordshire Police): Bedfordshire Police acknowledges the report and outlines its approach to domestic abuse cases, including training, DA champions, and proactive engagement. They explain the use of DVPN/DVPOs and defend the decision …
Responded
Lee-Ann Ince
Concerns: Agencies supporting the victim lacked understanding of coercive control and the impact of "love bombing." Children's concerns were overlooked, and the victim's physical health vulnerability was not recognised, increasing her risk.
Response (Greater Manchester Integrated Care): NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care (NHS GM) and partners will translate recommendations into tangible actions, and the Community Safety Partnership Board will retain local governance to ensure actions are met …
Response (Greater Manchester Integrated Care): Trafford Council and NHS GM are planning specialist training on the Care Act & Domestic Abuse, and a dedicated task & finish group to develop their approach to supporting victims …
Responded
Committee Recommendations (84) — showing 50 strongest matches
#44 — Ensure women's health hubs meet specific demographic needs, accounting for religious and cultural considerations.
Recommendation: Integrated care boards must ensure that their hubs meet the specific demographic needs of their populations, particularly accounting for religious and cultural considerations.
Gov response: We agree that women’s health hubs must be tailored to the needs of local populations. For that reason, improving health outcomes and reducing health inequalities are key aims of women’s health hubs, as set out …
Not Addressed
#31 — Incorporate support for women and children conceived through rape into the Women's Health Strategy.
Recommendation: The Government’s plans for the Women’s Health Strategy for England should include support and guidance for women who have conceived as a result of rape, and for children born as a result of rape. This should include tailored information on …
Gov response: This government recognises that women suffering with gynaecological conditions have been failed for far too long, and we acknowledge the impact that long wait times for diagnosis and treatment for conditions such as endometriosis have …
Under Consideration
#11 — Specialist VAWG services inadequately equipped to support all survivors with diverse needs.
Recommendation: Women’s Aid also raised concerns over how well–equipped services were to provide the necessary support to all survivors, stating that there are only two refuges nationally that are wheelchair accessible.24 Written evidence submitted by Commonweal Housing highlighted that mothers with …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 Through ministerially chaired VAWG thematic roundtables with sector experts, delivery partners, academics, policing, local practitioners and government departments, and regular stakeholder meetings held by …
Not Addressed
#10 — VAWG charities face overwhelming, complex demands, exceeding capacity due to external factors.
Recommendation: Women’s Aid told the Committee that the demands being faced by charities are increasing both in volume and complexity.20 For example, demand for specialist mental health support for survivors has increased following the COVID–19 pandemic, with over 45% of people …
Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.2 Through ministerially chaired VAWG thematic roundtables with sector experts, delivery partners, academics, policing, local practitioners and government departments, and regular stakeholder meetings held by …
Accepted
#23 — Publish new hate crime action plan focused on tackling intersectional abuse of Muslim women.
Recommendation: The Government should publish a new hate crime action plan with a dedicated focus on tackling the intersectional abuse of Muslim women. This plan should include mechanisms on how to increase reporting and guidance on how public services should respond …
Gov response: 63. The recently published Protecting What Matters outlines the Government’s approach to improving social cohesion based on three key pillars: confident communities, focusing on pride in place and community initiatives; cohesive communities, focusing on integration …
No Published Response
#1 — Muslim women experience increasing, gendered, and intersectional abuse and discrimination in the UK.
Recommendation: Muslims in the UK face increasing levels of online, verbal, and physical abuse and discrimination. Muslim women are disproportionately likely to face such abuse and experience it in ways that are specifically gendered and often linked to their race and/or …
Gov response: 1. The Government welcomes the Women and Equalities Committee’s inquiry into Gendered Islamophobia and the resulting report, published on 30 January 2026, exploring the discrimination, harassment and abuse Muslim women presently face. We are grateful …
No Published Response
#11 — Set ambitious, long-term proposals for reforming the policing system and addressing crime.
Recommendation: Given the importance of the Government’s ambitions on crime and policing, including halving knife crime and halving Violence Against Women and Girls, and the significant challenges facing the policing system, we encourage the Government to be ambitious in setting out …
Gov response: The Government has set out an unprecedented objective of halving the levels of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in a decade. We will deliver a cross-Government transformative approach, underpinned by a new Strategy to …
Accepted
#6 — Conduct local VAWG funding mapping and publish cross-government mapping with annual updates
Recommendation: We recommend that local authorities, police and crime commissioners and mayors conduct mapping exercises to identify where they allocate funding to tackle VAWG. We recommend that the Government publish alongside the VAWG strategy its cross-government mapping of where funding to …
Gov response: We acknowledge the difficulties providers encounter when given short- term funding. Where possible, our aim is to provide longer-term grant agreements to improve certainty and enable recipients to plan. Following the Chancellor’s announcement on 11th …
Under Consideration
#5 — Mandate annual mapping and update of central and local VAWG funding
Recommendation: Mapping of where central and local government are spending money to tackle VAWG should lead to reduced duplication of services as well as fewer gaps in the services funded. Each local authority should annually map, and update, their funding provision …
Gov response: The responsibility of assessing value for money criteria rests with individual government departments, each of which is accountable for funding and supporting delivery in their respective policy areas where local authorities have a role. The …
Under Consideration
#16 — Financial uncertainty significantly harms smaller 'by-and-for' VAWG services crucial for diverse survivor needs.
Recommendation: This financial uncertainty can have particularly devastating consequences on smaller, specialist organisations, including those run ‘by–and–for’ the people that they serve. Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse told us that funding ‘by–and–for’ services not only ensures adequate support for all survivors, …
Gov response: 3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2025 3.2 The government is committed to delivering its ambition to halve VAWG in a decade, underpinned by a transformational approach to be …
Not Addressed
#2 — Improve government departments' understanding of domestic abuse survivors' experiences and local service demands.
Recommendation: Government departments do not have a realistic understanding of the experiences of survivors seeking support, nor the demands faced by local services on the ground. Government departments appear to have a starkly different understanding of the support provided to survivors …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented Through ministerially chaired VAWG thematic roundtables with sector experts, delivery partners, academics, policing, local practitioners and government departments, and regular stakeholder meetings held by the Interpersonal …
Accepted
#48 — Policing must demonstrate cultural change through excellent service for VAWG victims.
Recommendation: Policing needs to show rather than tell women and girls that cultural change has taken place. It can start by providing a consistently excellent service to victims and survivors of VAWG. The availability of officers with the right skills and …
Gov response: 117. We are working with the NPCC to design a CJ Unit Optimum model focused on improving case progression and communication with the CPS. This will include consideration of EIA, and good practice across forces. …
Accepted
#14 — Require all universities to implement compulsory bystander intervention programmes for first-year students.
Recommendation: The Office for Students’ condition of registration should require all universities to put in place compulsory evidence-based bystander intervention programmes for all first-year students. The Office for Students should strengthen its statement of expectations to ensure that universities provide that …
Gov response: 16. The Department for Education expects all universities to have policies and procedures to comply with the law, including responsibilities under the Equalities Act 2010. Many universities provide bystander training. The results of the Office …
Under Consideration
#24 — Continue advancing 'Leave No One Behind' and raise marginalised groups' SRHR rights diplomatically.
Recommendation: Over recent years, there has been an alarming rollback on the rights of women and girls globally, of which SRHR are integral, and further criminalisation of LGBT+ people. The merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with the Department for …
Gov response: 1 Depot Medroxy Progesterone Acetate in its Sub-Cutaneous form 6 The FCDO’s approach to sexual and reproductive health: Government Response Partially Agree
Under Consideration
#23 — Ensure SRHR services in humanitarian contexts reach marginalised groups through FCDO knowledge-sharing.
Recommendation: The FCDO has made positive progress in tackling sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian contexts, such as by adopting the Minimum Initial Services Package. The FCDO should ensure that SRHR services in these contexts reach the most marginalised groups and …
Gov response: Agree 82. The FCDO has committed to considering SRHR in all our humanitarian funding, and to supporting the rollout of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) in acute crises. The FCDO ensures cross working from …
Accepted
#4 — Set out approval process for NI EVAWG strategy during Executive suspension
Recommendation: We are concerned to hear about the gatekeeping of funding and other activity by paramilitary groups which has increasingly excluded women and the community and voluntary sector since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. This has implications for the …
Gov response: The UK Government welcomes the restoration of the NI Executive. There is now an important opportunity for the Executive to deliver on its commitments to progress a Northern Ireland Strategy on Ending Violence Against Women …
Not Addressed
#21 — Limited consideration of women in drug strategy overlooks specific barriers to treatment access.
Recommendation: We were concerned that the government’s drug strategy made little reference to women.70 Written evidence submitted by the Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner underlined the limited consideration of women and girls in the strategy, and the …
Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2025 5.2 The Drug Strategy sets out the government’s overall ambition to ‘monitor impacts across the strategy’s whole system approach to track progress …
Accepted
#36 — Collect data on non-disclosure agreement use by regulated firms in misconduct cases.
Recommendation: In the meantime, we recommend that the FCA collect data on the use of NDAs by regulated firms in cases of non-financial misconduct. This will provide a more detailed, quantitative picture of the extent of their use in financial services …
Gov response: As the Committee is aware, we recently issued a non-financial misconduct survey to wholesale firms in the insurance, insurance intermediary, banking and broking sectors. The survey covers the use of confidentiality agreements when settling complaints …
Accepted
#35 — Introduce legislation to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements in harassment cases.
Recommendation: We are pleased that the Government is looking at ways to prevent this abusive use of NDAs, and we recommend the introduction of legislation to ban the use of NDAs in harassment cases.
Gov response: The Government shares concerns that NDAs are being used to intimidate victims of discrimination and harassment into silence and is already taking action. As the Committee recognises, the Government has taken significant steps to prevent …
Partially Accepted
#34 — Widespread misuse of non-disclosure agreements silences harassment victims and protects perpetrators.
Recommendation: The widespread misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in sexual harassment cases is shocking. NDAs have the effect of silencing the victim of harassment when they are forced out of an organisation, while protecting the perpetrator and leaving them free to …
Gov response: The Government shares concerns that NDAs are being used to intimidate victims of discrimination and harassment into silence and is already taking action. As the Committee recognises, the Government has taken significant steps to prevent …
Accepted
#33 — Launch an awareness campaign to publicise FCA whistleblowing line and clarify its use.
Recommendation: We recommend that the FCA launches an awareness campaign to publicise the availability of its whistleblowing line and clarify the circumstances in which it can be used, including that nothing in a non-disclosure agreement can prevent an individual from reporting …
Gov response: We are currently considering how we can improve our approach to whistleblowing, and we will take the opportunity to consider how to communicate publicly any changes we make and whether a publicity campaign would be …
Not Addressed
#32 — Limited awareness of FCA whistleblowing line hinders effective reporting of harassment.
Recommendation: There is limited awareness of the FCA’s whistleblowing line or how it works, and we believe there is scope to enhance its effectiveness and reduce the ‘fear factor’ victims of harassment face when reporting abuse.
Gov response: We are currently considering how we can improve our approach to whistleblowing, and we will take the opportunity to consider how to communicate publicly any changes we make and whether a publicity campaign would be …
Not Addressed
#31 — Regulators' powers constrained in tackling non-financial misconduct
Recommendation: There is an important role for regulators to play in ensuring that firms tackle sexual harassment. We welcome the proposals by the Financial Conduct Authority and by the Prudential Regulation Authority to strengthen their regimes for tackling non-financial misconduct, including …
Gov response: We welcome the Committee’s report, Sexism in the City, published on 8 March, and its conclusion that there is an important role for regulators to play in promoting diversity and inclusion. We agree. Greater diversity …
Not Addressed
#30 — Clarify enforcement collaboration between EHRC and FCA on Worker Protection Act
Recommendation: Given the potential overlap between the aims of the Worker Protection Act, which will be enforced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), and the proposals by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on handling sexual misconduct in financial services, …
Gov response: The EHRC is responsible for enforcement of the new duty on employers, but we recognise that there will be considerable areas of common interest and we have already been in contact to discuss this. We …
Not Addressed
#29 — Worker Protection Act imposes new duty on firms to prevent sexual harassment
Recommendation: The new Worker Protection Act imposes a new duty on firms to prevent sexual harassment. We hope that this legislation has the desired impact of incentivising firms to take greater action to prevent harassment in the workplace, and we will …
Gov response: The EHRC is responsible for enforcement of the new duty on employers, but we recognise that there will be considerable areas of common interest and we have already been in contact to discuss this. We …
Not Addressed
#28 — Strengthen whistleblowing legislation to protect and support sexual harassment whistleblowers
Recommendation: We have heard that whistleblowing processes within financial services firms are often ineffective at tackling bad behaviour or protecting those who report harassment. The Government is undertaking a review of whistleblowing laws, and we strongly recommend that the Government seeks …
Gov response: The Government recognises how valuable it is that whistleblowers are prepared to shine a light on wrongdoing and believes that they should be able to do so without fear of recriminations. The Employment Rights Act …
Not Addressed
#27 — Encourage men to act as allies and challenge sexual harassment in firms
Recommendation: It is vital that sexual harassment is viewed as a problem for everyone to solve, including men. Firms should do all they can to develop a culture in which men are encouraged and incentivised to act as allies and role …
Gov response: We welcome the Committee’s report, Sexism in the City, published on 8 March, and its conclusion that there is an important role for regulators to play in promoting diversity and inclusion. We agree. Greater diversity …
Not Addressed
#26 — Tackle abusive 'microaggressions' against women using unconscious bias and bystander training
Recommendation: It is also important that firms tackle the ‘softer end’ of abusive behaviour and ‘microaggressions’ against women in order to create an inclusive culture in which even low-level bullying or harassment is seen as unacceptable. Firms should consider what steps …
Gov response: We welcome the Committee’s report, Sexism in the City, published on 8 March, and its conclusion that there is an important role for regulators to play in promoting diversity and inclusion. We agree. Greater diversity …
Not Addressed
#25 — Adopt zero-tolerance to sexual harassment, ensuring thorough investigations and appropriate consequences
Recommendation: Firms need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards sexual harassment and abuse and take concrete action to embed this approach within their organisations. Impunity for perpetrators, who are often well known in their organisations for serial offending, must end. As …
Gov response: We welcome the Committee’s report, Sexism in the City, published on 8 March, and its conclusion that there is an important role for regulators to play in promoting diversity and inclusion. We agree. Greater diversity …
Not Addressed
#24 — Prevalence of sexual harassment in financial services is unacceptable
Recommendation: We have been appalled by testimonies we have received about the prevalence of sexual harassment in the financial services industry, including from some of the brave women who told us about their experiences at our own private roundtable event. Although …
Gov response: We welcome the Committee’s report, Sexism in the City, published on 8 March, and its conclusion that there is an important role for regulators to play in promoting diversity and inclusion. We agree. Greater diversity …
Not Addressed
#6 — Ongoing NHS website improvements for women's reproductive health information are welcomed
Recommendation: We welcome the ongoing improvements to the NHS website to include information about a wider range of women’s reproductive health conditions, information to specific communities and signposts to support and the ambition to include that information in alternative formats.
Gov response: Cutting waiting lists, including for gynaecology, is a critical part of our health mission to build an NHS fit for the future and a top priority for this government. NHS England’s plan on reforming elective …
Accepted
#3 — Amend Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme eligibility to include online sexual offence claims
Recommendation: The Ministry of Justice must amend the eligibility criteria of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to bring claims from victims of sexual offences perpetrated online, specifically non-consensual intimate image abuse, within its scope. (Recommendation, Paragraph 26)
Gov response: Government response: Reject We have carefully considered potential changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme’s scope, including the views of respondents to consultations undertaken by the previous Government. Our conclusion is that we will maintain …
No Published Response
#14 — Reconsider cuts to women and girls-specific programming and consider ringfencing funding.
Recommendation: In the light of these impact assessments, the Government must reconsider the cuts to women and girls-specific programming announced by the Minister and should consider ringfencing funding for this programming. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80)
Gov response: Disagree Decisions on the FCDO’s 2025/26 ODA programme allocations have been made. As confirmed by the Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA), the allocations process for 2025/26 has protected against disproportionate impacts on women and girls and …
Not Accepted
#11 — Funding cuts to gender-specific programming devastate women and girls, denying vital support.
Recommendation: Funding cuts to gender-specific programming will be devastating for women and girls, starving them of vital support and services. The Government has not learned lessons from the previous Government about the severe impacts of funding cuts to programming for women …
Gov response: 55. We recognise the importance of strengthening the private sector in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS) and we welcome the Committee’s recognition of the role British International Investment (BII) in these contexts. 56. BII has …
Under Consideration
#15 — Inadequate accessibility to testing and forensic capacity for spiking victims
Recommendation: Accessibility to testing is an issue for many victims and the lack of forensic testing capacity creates evidential difficulties for the police.
Gov response: As the Committee notes, law enforcement, in partnership with forensic provider Eurofins, established an accredited rapid urine testing service in response to the outbreak of needle spiking in Autumn 2021. This service will be in …
Accepted
#51 — Establish firewall between police and Home Office to prevent data sharing against migrant victims.
Recommendation: We restate the previous Home Affairs Committee’s recommendation from its 2018 report into Domestic Abuse, that “immigration status must not bar victims of abuse from protection and access to justice.” We concur with the Women and Equalities Committee’s recommendation that …
Gov response: 123. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 introduced reforms by simplifying the current framework on Out of Court Disposals (OoCD). The changes are intended to provide much more consistency to the Police, victims …
Under Consideration
#49 — Encourage forces to establish specialist police rape and sexual offence teams with resources.
Recommendation: We repeat our previous recommendation, made in our report on “The investigation and prosecution of rape”, that the Government strongly encourage forces without specialist police rape and sexual offence teams to put such teams in place and with sufficient resource, …
Gov response: 118. The Home Office is leading a Redaction Working Group, which brings together officials from HO, MoJ, AGO, CPS and policing representatives to explore solutions to the redaction burden. The Group has developed simplified guidance …
Under Consideration
#14 — Establish a national ringfenced funding pot for 'by and for' services with standardised bidding
Recommendation: We recommend the establishment of a national ringfenced pot of money for ‘by and for’ services. This pot should be designed so ‘by and for’ services apply for funding using a standardised bidding process to minimise the administrative burden. (Recommendation, …
Gov response: Ringfences are an important tool in supporting specific policy priorities. However, the use of ringfences must be balanced against the need for departments to retain sufficient flexibility to allocate funding within their settlements and respond …
Not Addressed
#6 —
Recommendation: In line with the recent G7 statement on the importance of an independent, transparent and impartial investigation into crimes reported in Tigray, the UK Government should work with the appropriate authorities to enable access for independent monitors to 4 The …
Gov response: Ensuring access and safety for humanitarian actors remains a key priority of the FCDO response. This issue has been raised bilaterally by FCDO officials, and the Foreign Secretary, on multiple occasions, with the Ethiopian authorities. …
Under Consideration
#5 —
Recommendation: We welcome the statement by the G7 group condemning the killing of civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, indiscriminate shelling and forced displacement of civilian populations. We recommend that the UK Government uses its long- standing diplomatic and development relationship with …
Gov response: We do not share this assessment. There remain pressing issues regarding the importation of communications equipment and travel approvals, for example, that Mr Beasley’s visit did not address. Whilst there have been some, more recent, …
Under Consideration
#4 —
Recommendation: We are appalled by the distressing reports of human rights abuses, gender-based violence and sexual violence in Tigray. The horrors that have been inflicted on people and their suffering during this conflict are unimaginable, and we are particularly saddened that, …
Gov response: The FCDO will continue to look for opportunities to enhance the existing atrocity prevention training we provide our staff through the International Academy to identify the risks of atrocities and conflict, and the continued development …
Under Consideration
#13 — Strengthen Office for Students' mandatory university requirements for tackling sexual harassment and violence.
Recommendation: The higher education sector has made progress in tackling sexual harassment and sexual violence, but that progress has been inconsistent and slow. The Office for Students (OfS) has committed to a new condition of registration which will place mandatory obligations …
Gov response: 16. The Department for Education expects all universities to have policies and procedures to comply with the law, including responsibilities under the Equalities Act 2010. Many universities provide bystander training. The results of the Office …
Not Addressed
#8 — Develop specific strategy to engage boys on sexual harassment in schools, laying before Parliament.
Recommendation: Engagement with boys and young men is crucial for tackling sexual harassment and sexual violence in educational settings. As part of the review of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), the Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office should …
Gov response: 8. The RSHE curriculum became statutory in schools in September 2020. A review of the statutory guidance is underway. This includes input from an expert panel, and there will be a full public consultation on …
Under Consideration
#5 — Require head teachers to address harmful mobile device use; improve DfE/Ofsted monitoring.
Recommendation: The Online Safety Bill is a landmark piece of legislation with the potential to significantly tackle violence against women and girls, in part through the regulation of online pornography. It presents an opportunity to address issues such as boys cyberflashing …
Gov response: 3. Keeping Children Safe in Education provides schools and colleges with information about what they should do to protect pupils and students online, including on different types of abuse and harm. 4. The updated Behaviour …
Accepted
#15 — Introduce a distinct honour-based abuse strategy specifically aimed at male victims
Recommendation: We recognise the overwhelming majority of victims of honour-based abuse are female, but this must not detract from the experiences of male victims. We are concerned the inclusion of men and boys in strategies primarily aimed at women and girls …
Gov response: We recognise that men can also be victims of these crimes and are committed to ensuring that all victims and survivors of HBA receive the support they deserve. Both the cross-Government Tackling Violence Against Women …
Not Accepted
#13 — Increase multi-year funding for by-and-for honour-based abuse services via simpler grants
Recommendation: The Government should increase the funding available to by-and-for services that support victims of honour-based abuse. The Government should commit to providing this funding across multiple years. It should also assess the merits of that funding being made available in …
Gov response: The Government is grateful to HBA charities for the vital work they do. We understand the particular difficulties faced by HBA charities in bidding for funding, so we have sought to make it easier for …
Accepted
#12 — By-and-for services for honour-based abuse victims are underfunded with complex commissioning
Recommendation: By-and-for services, which are organisations designed and run by and for people who are minoritised, are vital to ensuring victims of honour- based abuse receive the support they need. However, the sector is underfunded, and complex commissioning processes often prevent …
Gov response: The Government is grateful to HBA charities for the vital work they do. We understand the particular difficulties faced by HBA charities in bidding for funding, so we have sought to make it easier for …
Accepted
#67 — Explain government support for efforts to end violence against women and girls in Pacific Islands.
Recommendation: The Government should explain if, and, if so, how it is supporting the Pacific Partnership and other efforts to end violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the Pacific Islands. (Paragraph 256) 74 Tilting horizons: the Integrated Review and the …
Gov response: 166. The Government agrees with the Committee. The UK contributed to the Pacific Partnership programme through core funding to UN Women, legacy contributions to the EU Development Fund (EDF) and renewed membership of the South …
Accepted
#22 — Include marginalised and excluded groups in SRHR programme planning and invest in their organisations.
Recommendation: People from marginalised groups, such as people with disabilities and LGBT+ people, may face additional and unique challenges in accessing SRHR services. The FCDO should ensure its commitment to the principle of ‘Leave No One Behind’ in all its SRHR …
Gov response: Agree 78. The FCDO recognises the importance of consulting those impacted by our policy and programmes including the most marginalised groups, such as people with disabilities and LGBT+ people. The FCDO believes it is integral …
Accepted
#21 — Ensure FCDO SRHR programmes include dedicated budget, targets, and disaggregated data for disabled people.
Recommendation: People with disabilities may face additional barriers to accessing SRHR programmes and providing services to people with disabilities may often take additional resources. Consequently, organisations implementing development programmes may be disincentivised from reaching marginalised groups as programmes are often required …
Gov response: Partially Agree 74. As committed to in the FCDO’s 2022 Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy, the FCDO has an ambition to embed disability inclusion across the full range of FCDO’s diplomacy, policy and programming, including …
Partially Accepted
HMICFRS Recommendations (10)
Police response to violence against women and girls: Final inspection report
Immediate review of use of outcomes 15 and 16 in violence against women and girls offences.
Recommendation
The hidden victims: Report on Hestia's super-complaint on the police response to …
Ensure support mechanisms consistently provide high-quality provision for victims of modern slavery
Recommendation
Safe to share? Liberty and Southall Black Sisters' super-complaint on policing and …
Immediately stop sharing information on domestic abuse victims with Immigration Enforcement as interim measure
Recommendation
A duty to protect: Police use of protective measures in cases involving …
Review mechanism for informing police of NMOs and propose remedies for improvement
Recommendation
A duty to protect: Police use of protective measures in cases involving …
Accelerate consideration of creating bespoke offence of breaching pre-charge bail
Recommendation
A duty to protect: Police use of protective measures in cases involving …
Commission research on whether bail reduces re-offending and protects victims
Recommendation
Police perpetrated domestic abuse: Report on the Centre for Women's Justice super-complaint
The Ministry of Justice should ensure that its guidance for independent domestic violence advisors includes guidance on the specific vulnerabilities of PPDA victims.
Recommendation
Police perpetrated domestic abuse: Report on the Centre for Women's Justice super-complaint
Police and Crime Commissioners should consider whether specific risks and barriers experienced by PPDA victims are being taken into account when commissioning victims' support services.
Recommendation
Police response to violence against women and girls: Final inspection report
Structures and funding should be put in place to make sure victims receive tailored and consistent support.
Recommendation
Evidence led domestic abuse prosecutions: A joint inspection
At outset of case, consider how to prosecute if victim were to withdraw support, leading to more detailed evidence gathering
Recommendation
IOPC Learning Recommendations (7)
Recommendation - Devon and Cornwall Police, March 2023
The IOPC recommends that the NHS England review the resourcing of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) within the Devon and Cornwall area. This follows an IOPC review of a Death or Serious Injury case in relation to the death of …
Recommendation - Avon and Somerset Police, March 2025
The IOPC recommends that Avon and Somerset Police implement a dynamic triaging process for Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) applications. This will establish the level of risk for the applicant throughout the process and prioritise those with a higher level …
Recommendation - Home Office, September 2024
The IOPC recommends that the Home Office amends its Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) statutory guidance to advise police forces to triage DVDS applications in a risk-based approach. It is suggested the guidance can be amended to instruct police forces …
Recommendations - Sussex Police, September 2024
The IOPC recommends that Sussex Police should amend their policies, training and practices around policing and safeguarding victims of domestic abuse to reflect the escalating risk if there are multiple domestic abuse incidents in a short period. Should officers attend …
Recommendations - Sussex Police, September 2024
The IOPC recommends that Sussex Police should amend training, guidance and practices around policing and safeguarding victims of domestic abuse to reflect the risk to a domestic abuse victim will likely be increased if the victim has any additional vulnerabilities …
Recommendations - Sussex Police, September 2024
The IOPC recommends that Sussex Police should amend their training, guidance and practices around policing and safeguarding victims of domestic abuse to reflect the increased risk to those experiencing domestic abuse when a suspect is known to be a serial …
Recommendation - Devon and Cornwall Police, March 2023
The IOPC recommends that Devon and Cornwall Police conduct a review of the training provided to ‘first response officers’ when dealing with victims of serious sexual offences. This follows an IOPC review of a Death or Serious Injury case in …
IMB Annual Reports (2)
Askham Grange (2024)
HMP/YOI Askham Grange is generally a safe and positive environment for women, with excellent staff-prisoner relationships, no self-harm incidents, and no use of force. While healthcare provision is good, concerns persist regarding accessibility and transparency of the complaints process, and issues with medication dispensing lockers. The prison excels in purposeful activity and resettlement, yet faces challenges with maintaining capacity and ensuring prisoners arrive with sufficient time to fully benefit from open conditions.
PRISON
Key concerns
Askham Grange (2025)
HMP/YOI Askham Grange is a safe and well-run open prison for women, with strong staff-prisoner relationships and a focus on rehabilitation and resettlement. The Board commends the high standards in education and key worker engagement, as well as the positive regime and family support. Key concerns include the impact of short sentences on resettlement outcomes, the lack of progress in enhancing sexual and domestic violence support services, and challenges in securing external neurodiversity support. The Board also noted that employment on release targets were not being met.
PRISON
Key concerns
IMB Recommendations (3)
Askham Grange (2024)
The Board recommends that the Prison Service ensures the provision of services to support prisoners who have been subject to sexual and domestic violence, following the Governor’s requests over the past 12 months.
HMPPS
Foston Hall (2022)
Lack of support for foreign national prisoners, and prisoners with protected characteristics (see paragraph 5.4.2, 5.4.3)
Governor / Director
Wandsworth (2025)
Foreign national prisoner comprised close to half the population at HMP Wandsworth, yet their support remained worryingly inadequate. How can this be improved?
Governor / Director
Detention Investigations (7)
Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons — Rec 14
I recommend that transsexual people should be presumed unsuitable for detention.
Immigration Detention
Assessment of government progress in implementing the report on the … — Rec 10
While the recent decrease in the overall number of women in detention is welcome, the Home Offce should at the earliest opportunity take further steps to identify women who claim asylum in detention and whose case would be better processed in the community.
Immigration Detention
Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons — Rec 45
I recommend that the Home Office seek the views of the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health on extending section 75 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to IRCs, prisons and mental hospitals.
Immigration Detention
Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons — Rec 35
I recommend that the service provider at Yarl’s Wood should only conduct searches of women and of women’s rooms in the presence of men in the most extreme and pressing circumstances, and that there should be monitoring and reporting of these cases.
Immigration Detention
Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons — Rec 19
The Home Office should consider the need for a separate DSO on LGBI detainees. Anti-‐bullying policies should include explicit reference to LGBTI detainees.
Immigration Detention
Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons — Rec 10
I recommend that the Home Office amend its guidance so that the presumptive exclusion from detention for pregnant women is replaced with an absolute exclusion.
Immigration Detention
Assessment of government progress in implementing the report on the … — Rec 19
The Home Offce and Ministry of Justice should conduct a review of the quality of interpreter services in IRCs.
Immigration Detention
LGO / SPSO Decisions (3)
24-011-994 — Guildford Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the Fixed Penalty Notice issued to Ms X for littering. This is because the tests in our Assessment Code are not met and there are insufficient grounds to warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Dec 2024
24-004-434 — Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s complaint procedure. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. We are satisfied the Council’s apology and offer of £250 in recognition of the complainant’s time …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Dec 2024
24-002-513 — Herefordshire Council
Summary: Ms D complained about the Council’s investigation of noise from a neighbouring house. We partially upheld the complaint, finding the Council did not record telling Ms D when it closed its investigation nor answer emails she sent later. This caused her avoidable and unnecessary distress. The Council has accepted …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Dec 2024