New Government measures to combat violence against women and girls

The UK government has unveiled a comprehensive set of measures aimed at tackling violence against women and girls. This is a key step in its pledge to halve incidents of violence within the next decade.

These efforts, spearheaded by the Home Secretary, reflect a wider mission to enhance public safety and restore confidence in law enforcement. The move is a response to alarming statistics, with almost 100 domestic abuse-related offences being recorded by the police every hour on average in the past year.

Shelley Workman, Associate of Coodes’ Family team, explores these new measures.

Raneem’s Law: aimed at preventing further tragedies

At the heart of this initiative is the introduction of domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms. This move intends to ensure that calls for help are treated with the utmost urgency. In doing so, the government aims to provide immediate support to victims and strengthen police responses to these critical situations.

Forming part of Raneem’s Law, the government will fund a pilot in targeted police forces from early 2025. Raneem Oudeh, and her mother Khaola Saleem, were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in 2018. Despite 13 reports to the police regarding concerns for Raneem’s safety, no action was taken. Tragically, on the night of the attack, Raneem made four desperate calls to 999.

Raneem’s Law seeks to prevent such tragedies by placing domestic abuse specialists in control rooms, ensuring that victims’ calls are taken seriously, and that warning signs are not ignored.

The law will also introduce national guidance that police must follow, making it a statutory requirement for officers to adhere to specific protocols in domestic abuse cases. The Home Secretary emphasised that these measures are crucial to saving lives and reducing violence against women and girls.

Nour Norris, Raneem’s aunt and lead campaigner for the law, has welcomed the government’s action. She notes that Raneem’s story, while tragic, will now serve as a source of hope and protection for others, helping to prevent future tragedies through systemic change.

Expanding legal protections for domestic abuse victims

In addition to Raneem’s Law, the government is launching a new Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) pilot in November. This initiative builds on existing powers by allowing police to issue orders preventing abusers from contacting or approaching their victims.

Unlike current protections, which last for up to 28 days, the new orders will have no maximum duration and will come with stricter conditions, including electronic tagging and mandatory attendance in behaviour change programs.

The DAPO will apply to all forms of domestic abuse, including violence, stalking, and controlling behaviour. Crucially, a wider range of agencies, including family courts, social services, charities, and local authorities, will now be able to apply for these orders, giving victims more avenues for protection. Breaching these orders will be treated as a criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, hailed the new protections as critical steps toward providing stronger and more effective responses to domestic abuse cases.

A whole-system approach to address gender-based violence

The government’s new measures are part of a broader strategy to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. This includes legal reforms and a cross-government approach, coordinated by the Safer Streets Mission Board, to tackle the root causes. The board will focus on prevention, education, and enforcement. They will work with schools to teach children about respect, consent, and healthy relationships.

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, welcomed the reforms, noting that the police receive a call related to domestic abuse every 30 seconds. She emphasised the importance of equipping emergency responders with the tools and expertise needed to protect victims effectively.

As the government rolls out these pilot programs, it marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to reducing violence against women and girls. By combining education, enforcement, and victim protection, the government aims to create safer communities and ensure that victims of abuse receive the urgent care and justice they deserve.

Help and support

We welcome these measures and support the government in its mission to halve these shocking statistics. If you, or a loved one, are seeking support, there are organisations that can help.

SUsie Project – a domestic abuse and sexual violence adult recovery programme. Telephone: 0300 777 4777

FirstLight – a charity for anyone who is experiencing or has experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence. Telephone: 0300 777 4777

ManKind Initiative – the principal, expert and specialist charity in the UK focusing on male victims of domestic abuse. Telephone:01823 334 244

Refuge – Refuge is the largest domestic abuse organisation in the UK. They offer support to thousands of women and their children. They help them to overcome the physical, emotional, financial, and logistical impacts of abuse and rebuild their lives. Telephone: 0808 2000 247