National Emergency of Violence Against Women and Girls Warns Report
Kent Charity SATEDA Praises New Focus on the Violence Against
Women and Girls Crisis
Leading Kent domestic abuse charity SATEDA welcomes a new focus on
the ‘staggering’ scale of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in England
and Wales.
A recent report by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC)
describes VAWG as a “national emergency” with 3,000 crimes recorded each day.
The report, released on Tuesday, July 23rd, highlights the alarming scale of
VAWG, which accounts for 20% of all police-recorded crime. Additionally, at
least 1 in 12 women experience violence each year, though the actual number is
likely much higher due to unreported crimes. This statistic does not include
other offenses like domestic abuse (DA), sexual assault, stalking, and
harassment. (Approximately 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their
lifetime.)
Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth detailed in the opening of the report that the NPCC will make their response to VAWG more consistent by using the 4P’s model used in counter terrorism:
- to relentlessly pursue high harm and repeat perpetrators
- prepare to respond more effectively
- protect victims
- prevent violence from occurring in the first place.
She said: “We are absolutely determined to turn the tide on
violence and abuse faced by women and girls and will continue to work
tirelessly to do better for victims.”
SATEDA is the only charity in Swale exclusively dedicated to
supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse. The charity provides
vital support to women and holds regular drop-ins across Swale and Maidstone
where women can gain confidential advice and support with their next steps.
They also offer crucial assistance in courts throughout Kent. These services
aim to break cycles of abuse;
SATEDA also works in schools and community
settings with children affected by domestic abuse. Last year, the charity
supported over 1,500 women and children.
Current Swale police data confirms that 4,689 domestic abuse incidents
occurred across the Borough of Swale between June 2023 and May 2024.
Carey Philpott, CEO of SATEDA, commented on the report, stating, “We welcome this crucial focus on the enormity of violence against women and girls in the UK - a reality we witness daily through the increasing demand for our services. It is heartening to see a commitment to address this national emergency head-on, especially as Labour pledges to ‘halve violence against women and girls’ over the next decade.”
For more information about SATEDA and its services, please visit sateda.org.