Specialist units and exclusion zones rolled out to tackle violence against women

Specialist rape and sex offences investigators will be deployed in every police force in England and Wales to tackle the ‘national emergency’ of violence against women and girls.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also announced that domestic abuse protection orders, which have been trialled over the last year, will be rolled out nationwide.

Campaigners welcomed the move, saying they will ‘finally give survivors the meaningful protection they’ve been denied for far too long’ and ‘save lives’.

The plans were unveiled ahead of publication of the government’s long-awaited strategy on violence against women and girls (VAWG) next week.

Under the plans, domestic abuse protection orders – which have been trialled for the past year – will be rolled out across England and Wales.

Courts will be able to set conditions for as long as needed to protect victims of all forms of domestic abuse, including economic, coercive behaviour, stalking and ‘honour’-based violence.

Perpetrators could be subjected to tagging or behaviour change programmes under the stronger, more flexible measures and those who breach the orders could face up to five years in prison.

Rhianon Bragg was stalked and held at gunpoint for eight hours by her ex-partner, Gareth Wyn Jones, in 2019. Jones was jailed for four and a half years in 2020, later released on license in February 2024.

As part of his license conditions, Jones was given an exclusion zone consisting of four counties surrounding Rhianon’s home for a period of five years. Jones died earlier this year.

Rhianon told Metro: ‘All victims should be able to live fear free, not just in their homes, but in their communities and further afield. 

‘The liberty of victims should never have been restricted to favour the perceived rights of perpetrators.

‘It’s right that there aren’t time limits imposed, the current system too frequently offers protection for only a limited period. 

‘As a victim, I lived the reality of the clock ticking, a terrifying countdown to my abuser being unrestricted, a situation where no protective measures would have been in place.

‘Electronic tagging was vital, so the perpetrator’s whereabouts was known to the authorities, which was key for our safety.’

That was not the case for Roann Court, who was told she could not even know what her mother’s killer looked like when he was released, let alone where he intended to go and resume his life.

‘I’ve been told that I am not allowed to know that information because they have to protect him and he has a right to privacy and he has a right to carry on with his life,’ Roann told Metro.

She added: ‘He is basically allowed to get on with his life.

‘There is nothing stopping him from meeting someone new and starting a family again, getting a job, going on holiday – there is literally nothing stopping him.

‘Whereas me – yes I have a family – but I definitely feel trapped.

‘If I go out – I’m not allowed to know what he looks like – so I’m left thinking “could he be here”?’

Roann was just 15 when she witnessed her mum Claire Mashall being killed by former partner Benjamin Cooper, who was freed last year.

Despite being diagnosed with complex PTSD and hypervigilance, she said she was ‘doing well’ up until she was told of the release.

Since then, she has found herself sticking to the same rigid routine, limiting where she goes and always phoning home to check in when she does venture out.

‘I’m very much on edge,’ she said.

Diana Parkes CBE, co-founder of The Joanna Simpson Foundation, said ‘victims have carried the burden of keeping themselves safe while perpetrators moved freely for too long’.

The new orders ‘will flip that dynamic’, she said, adding: ‘We’ve been calling for stronger, enforceable restriction zones that put the safety of victims first for some time.

‘This announcement marks a real shift in how seriously the system treats ongoing abuse. Restriction zones, electronic tagging and curfews aren’t just bureaucratic tools – they are practical safeguards.

‘By allowing protections with no arbitrary time limits, the government is recognising the reality of how abuse works and how long recovery takes.

‘These orders are the robust action that can save lives.’

Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE, co-founder of The Joanna Simpson Foundation, said the rollout ‘must be matched with robust, systemic training for frontline officers so that every survivor is met with trust and action’.

She added: ‘What matters now is that these powers are used consistently and confidently so survivors can trust that the promises made today will hold tomorrow.’

Other plans outlined by Ms Mahmood include specialist rape and sex offences investigators being introduced to every police force by 2029.

The dedicated sex offence investigators are intended to replace the ‘outdated’ system of detectives without the specialist knowledge handling cases, leaving dangerous predators on the streets.

Ms Mahmood has also pledged to strip foreign sex offenders of refugee protections so that they can be deported faster under proposed reforms to human rights laws.

Plans will also be explored to widen a disclosure scheme to allow for more offenders to have their past convictions released to their partners on request.

Ms Mahmood said: ‘This government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency.

‘For too long, these crimes have been considered a fact of life. That’s not good enough. We will halve it in a decade.

‘Today we announce a range of measures to bear down on abusers, stopping them in their tracks.

‘Rapists, sex offenders and abusers will have nowhere to hide.’

However, there is not thought to be any new additional funding for the new specialist units, according to the Guardian.

Campaigners have also raised concerns about victims facing a postcode lottery when it comes to responses as individual forces move at different speeds.

Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said: ‘We welcome the news that specialist rape and sexual offence investigators will be established in every police force.

‘All survivors deserve care, support and sensitivity when they take the courageous step to report what happened to them to the police, and to see their case investigated properly and thoroughly for the greatest chance of accessing justice. 

‘However, we are concerned that this may not be fully in place until 2029.

‘In the meantime, survivors may often receive an inconsistent response depending on the force area they live in – this is not acceptable.

‘Victims of rape are facing enormous challenges in the criminal justice system, with lengthier delays to their cases than any other crime type.

‘We urge police forces to prioritise implementation of these reforms without delay.’

The Home Office is expected to publish its violence against women and girls strategy next week.

It comes as ministers have vowed to halve violence against women and girls in the next 10 years.

But they have faced criticism over delays to publishing the plan.

On Tuesday, chairs of the Home Affairs Committee, Justice Committee and Women and Equalities Committee wrote to ministers over concerns from Vawg groups, including the delay is creating ‘significant uncertainty’ across the sector and sending a message Vawg is ‘not a government priority’.

Ahead of the publication of the Government’s VAWG Strategy, Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said: ‘Amid the epidemic of VAWG, survivors have been waiting far too long for meaningful action.

‘The VAWG Strategy is not only long overdue – it is a defining test of this Government’s legacy in creating lasting change for women.

‘At a time when specialist support services are facing immense demand, Refuge has been waiting with bated breath to see how the Government intends to honour its pledge to halve VAWG within the decade.

‘After nearly 18 months of anticipation – and with services stretched to breaking point – the strategy will reveal whether the Government is prepared to deliver on what services and survivors have been calling for: a society where women and girls can live free from fear.

‘We keenly await the publication of the VAWG Strategy and hope it will mark a genuine turning point for survivors.

‘Tackling VAWG demands bold action, and the Government must seize this moment. Women and girls’ futures depend on it.’

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