Epidemic of violence against women under way in England and Wales – report

Radical shift needed in how police tackle crimes disproportionately affecting female victims, says watchdog

Women and girls are being subjected to an epidemic of violence that requires a radical and bold" shift in how authorities in England and Wales tackle crimes that disproportionately affect female victims, a police watchdog has warned.

In an interim report, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) calls for councils, schools, health and social care bodies and all areas of the criminal justice system to work together to address the problem, as police cannot solve this alone".