TWO senior Labour councillors have issued a joint statement following a police report on the “epidemic” of violence against women and girls.

Councillors Kay Morrison and Lanie Shears said:

“We’ve talked about this and written about it. It’s become clear that we’ll have to keep on talking because it’s not going away. In fact, violence against women is getting worse, described by police as ‘a national emergency.’

Stalking, harassment, serial assault, controlling/coercive behaviour and domestic violence affect 1 in 12 women in England and Wales; the number of recorded incidents has increased by 35% in the last 5 years, while perpetrators are getting younger and younger.  

Child sexual abuse and exploitation increased 400% between 2013 and 2022; offences committed by children increased to 56% of the total. Young men are being radicalised by social media influencers: the fastest-growing domestic abuse trend is amongst those aged 16 to 19.

Police tell us that these crimes are under-reported and that actual statistics are much higher, possibly double those reported. The estimated figure (year ending 2023) for domestic abuse incidents is 2,124,000, compared with 889,918 reported to police while sexual assault may be well over a million, compared with 195,315 reported.

Tech companies must introduce measures to ensure boys aren’t targeted with misogynistic content.

Schools must deliver effective relationship and sex education to ensure girls are safe.

Our country must take this epidemic seriously.

The safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, said ‘The scale of violence against women and girls is intolerable. This government will treat it as a national emergency.’ 

We agree. Change is needed, badly needed, now.

Kay Morrison

Lanie Shears