Press Release | Statements

31 January 2025

Refuge responds to NAO ‘Tackling violence against women and girls’ report

Responding to the ‘Tackling violence against women and girls’ report from the National Audit Office (NAO), Abigail Ampofo, interim CEO of Refuge, said: 

 

“Sadly, the findings of today’s NAO report come as no surprise. We support thousands of survivors every year, so we know all too well violence against women and girls (VAWG) is horrifically common. And yet, confidence in the justice system is at an all-time low, and every day survivors continue to be failed, which is having devastating and at times, fatal consequences.

“More surprisingly, the NAO report found that the prevalence of domestic abuse was lower in 2023-24 than in 2009-10, but we know data represents just the tip of the iceberg, as women face a myriad of barriers when reporting to the police. Underreporting, coupled with inconsistent data collection and new police recording rules introduced in 2023, may create a misleading impression that domestic abuse is on the decline, when from our experience as a service provider, this is not the case at all. Meanwhile, the report highlighted a rise in sexual assault, with 20% of all police-recorded crime in 2022-23 relating to VAWG.

“We welcomed the Government’s pledge to halve VAWG within the decade, but while 78% of the commitments made across both the Home Office’s VAWG Strategy and Domestic Abuse Plan were met by 2024, many of these commitments were not new, according to the report. And when a woman is being killed by a partner or ex-partner every five days in England and Wales, 78% is not enough.

“The Government has vowed to take VAWG seriously, so it is incredibly disappointing to see the Home Office has underspent on its own VAWG budget by an average of 15% between 2021-22 and 2023-24, particularly at a time when support services for survivors are facing immense financial pressure. Refuge has consistently stressed the importance of increased funding for the VAWG sector, as without it, the Government will not be able to achieve its goal of halving VAWG. Specialist services, many of which are at breaking point, urgently need investment to reverse years of chronic underfunding.

“We sincerely hope the Home Office’s new VAWG strategy, set to be shared in spring, will include a thorough, cross-Government plan for tackling systematic shortcomings in the justice system, as well as improved funding provisions for lifesaving VAWG services.

“With the Spring Budget also approaching, we urge the Government to allocate ring-fenced, multi-year and sustainable funding for specialist organisations to ensure as many survivors as possible can access vital support.”