New measures set out to combat violence against women and girls

20th September 2024

Violence Against Women and Girls in Scotland
14,602 sexual crimes were recorded by Police Scotland in 2022-23.i

The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2019-2020 showed that only 22% of victims/survivors of rape reported it to the police.ii

At least 37% of the 14,602 sexual crimes recorded in 2022-23 by the police related to a victim under the age of 18.iii

There has been a notable decrease in the extent to which people agree with rape myths since 2014. In 2019, 8% of people in Scotland thought that ‘women often lie about being raped' (down from 23% in 2014).

28% believed that ‘rape results from men being unable to control their need for sex' (37% in 2014).iv

However, this still equates to one in ten people in Scotland thinking that 'women often lie about being raped' and nearly one in three continuing to believe that ‘rape results from men being unable to control their need for sex'.

3,830 sexual crimes were cyber-crimes in 2022-23.v That has increased from 1,100 in 2013-14.

More than one in six women in Scotland has experienced online violence.vi

1,928 online child sexual abuse crimes were recorded in Scotland in 2022-23, a 6.6% increase (20 more crimes) on the five-year mean.

64,807 domestic abuse incidents were recorded by Police Scotland in 2021-22.

Around four out of five (81%) of these incidents had a female victim and a male perpetrator.vii

The 2019/20 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey found that just under one-sixth (16%) of those who experienced partner abuse in the 12 months prior to interview said that the police came to know about the most recent (or only) incident.viii

In Scotland, 37% of girls and young women aged 16 to 21 say that "I am often stared at and receive unwanted attention when I go outside", as do 12% of 11- to 16-year-old girls.ix

A quarter (24.5%) of women who have experienced financial abuse from a partner in the UK are over 60 years of age.x

Children and young people under 18 are responsible for at least a third of recorded sexual offences against children and young people in the UK.xi

1 in 5 female students in higher education experiences sexual harassment, and one in four experiences sexual assault.

Over half of all students who have experienced sexual assault and/or sexual harassment experienced it on campus.xii

When asked for their views on teenage girls/boys aged 14-15 watching pornography, a quarter of adults (25%) agreed that it was normal for teenage boys, compared to 15% for teenage girls.xiii

Disabled women in the UK are twice as likely to experience men's violence as non-disabled women.xiv

In the UK Black and minority ethnic (BME) and migrant women in the UK face higher levels of domestic homicide and abuse driven suicide.xv

BME women referred to MARAC typically self-report suffering abuse 1.5 times longer before getting help than people who identify as White, British or Irish. One in four BME victim/survivors report needing the aid of an interpreter to communicate effectively and one in five report having no recourse to public funds.

Violence against women and girls in Scotland is a serious issue, with many women and girls experiencing abuse and violence. The Scottish Government's vision is to create a Scotland where women and girls are safe and respected, and free from all forms of violence and abuse.

Here are some statistics on violence against women and girls in Scotland:

Domestic abuse
An estimated 1 in 3 women in Scotland experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives. In 2021-22, 64,807 domestic abuse incidents were recorded by Police Scotland, with 81% of these incidents having a female victim and a male perpetrator.

Sexual crimes
In 2022-23, Police Scotland recorded 14,602 sexual crimes, with at least 37% of these crimes relating to a victim under the age of 18.

Online violence
More than one in six women in Scotland have experienced online violence. In 2022-23, 1,928 online child sexual abuse crimes were recorded in Scotland.

Some women have reported that they feel safer by taking self-protection strategies, such as not traveling alone, avoiding certain routes, and using tracking apps. They also say that knowing who to report incidents to and what support is available is important.
If you or someone you know is experiencing gender-based violence or domestic abuse, you can call the Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline on 0800 027 1234.

[url=https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/52985/womens-and-girls-views-and-experiences-of-personal-safety-when-using-public-transport-summary-report-march-2023.pdf]Women's and girls' views
and experiences of personal safety when using public transport[/url]

New measures set out to combat violence against women and girls in England.

Home Secretary to spearhead a cross-government approach to tackling violence against women and girls, part of the wider mission to take back our streets.

Victims of domestic abuse will be better protected from vile perpetrators under new plans to strengthen the police's fight against violence towards women and girls, announced by the Home Secretary today (Friday, 20 September).

Marking the first step in the government's pledge to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, a key element of the wider mission to take back our streets, domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in 999 control rooms.

Almost 100 domestic abuse related offences were recorded by the police every hour on average last year. This new initiative will ensure calls for help are treated with the urgency needed and victims get the specialist support they need straight away.

This will form part of ‘Raneem’s Law’, in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in 2018. There were 13 reports made to the police about concerns for Raneem’s safety, with no arrests made. On the night she was killed, she rang 999 four times.

The government will fund this pilot in targeted police forces from early 2025. Specialists with expertise in domestic abuse will be embedded in 999 control rooms to advise on risk assessments and work with officers on the ground, to ensure that victims get a fast response when needed and are referred to support services as quickly as possible.

These specialists will be backed up by dedicated teams to improve how the police respond to these kinds of calls, including using new technology to respond more quickly such as rapid video response.

‘Raneem’s Law’ will be put on a statutory footing by issuing national guidance that police will be required to follow.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Victims of appalling domestic abuse need to know that the police will be there for them. Today’s measures are the start of this new government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

Failure to understand the seriousness of domestic abuse costs lives and far too many have already been lost. That’s why introducing ‘Raneem’s Law’ in memory of Raneem and her mother Khaola is so vital - and has been a personal priority for me.

Through an expert-led, practical police response, we need to ensure that when victims and survivors of abuse have the courage to come forward it will be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. Our mission is for the whole of government, agencies, organisations and communities to work together to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, and today is just one step of many towards tangible and long-lasting change.

Nour Norris, lead campaigner, aunt and sister of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem, said:

Six years ago, when I lost my niece Raneem and sister Khaola, my world fell apart. Their suffering and the way the system failed them is something I will never forget. That’s when I began my campaign, Secure Life for Raneem’s Law. What started as a quest for justice for my family became a mission to improve outcomes for all domestic abuse victims everywhere.

Raneem’s Law will ensure that domestic abuse specialists are present in 999 control rooms so victims’ calls for help are taken seriously and save lives by making sure no warning signs are ignored, unlike in Raneem’s story. I am deeply proud that this government has listened and acted quickly to make Raneem’s Law a reality. Their commitment to addressing domestic violence has shown me that change is possible when we refuse to stay silent.

Knowing that Raneem’s name will now be a source of hope and protection for others fills me with a sense of pride I cannot put into words. Raneem’s memory lives on in this law, and it means the world to me to know that her story will help save lives.

In a further step to keep women and girls safe, from November more domestic abusers will be ordered to stay away from their victims and face tougher sanctions if they fail to do so through the launch of the new domestic abuse protection order pilot.

The pilot will build on powers police already have to legally order abusers to not make contact with or go within a certain distance of the victim - but domestic abuse victims are currently only protected for up to 28 days.

The new orders will go further, with measures such as making it a legal requirement for perpetrators to inform the police of any change in name or address, imposing electronic tagging, and ordering assessments for behaviour change programmes. There will also be no maximum duration for these orders.

The orders will cover all forms of domestic abuse, including violence, stalking and controlling behaviour, and more agencies will be able to apply for them - not just the police and criminal courts but also family and civil courts, and third parties such as local authorities, charities and social services, with victims also able to apply directly for the order themselves.

Breaching one of these new orders will be a criminal offence, punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips said:

For too long, we know victims haven’t had the protection they deserve. We have set out an ambitious mission - to halve violence against women and girls in a decade - and offering the strongest and most effective response to incidents of domestic abuse is absolutely fundamental to this.

Embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms and rolling out new protective orders to pilot forces and courts across the country are both huge steps towards the best response for victims possible.

Working with Nour, Raneem’s aunt and Khaola’s sister, has been one of the greatest honours of my life. We must make sure that when we change our policies those are the people that it comes from. The people with direct experience.

Today’s announcement marks the launch of the government’s unprecedented mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, which is an integral part of the wider mission to take back our streets and raise confidence in the police and criminal justice system to its highest levels.

To deliver this long-term reform and ensure efforts remain coordinated and effective, the Home Secretary will spearhead a cross-government approach to violence against women and girls through the Safer Streets Mission Board. This will ensure that all parts of government are focused on tackling gender-based violence.

The package of measures announced today reinforce the government’s commitment to use every government and police tool to target perpetrators and address the root causes of violence. This includes supporting schools and educational institutions in teaching children about healthy relationships, respect, and consent. Prevention and education are key pillars of the government’s broader strategy, alongside enforcement and victim protection.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs said:

I welcome today’s announcements on progress to introduce Raneem’s law and pilot the new domestic abuse protection orders.

It is estimated that the police receive a call about domestic abuse every 30 seconds. Emergency call handlers must be equipped to respond with the understanding and urgency that is needed to keep victims safe.

Domestic abuse protection orders should also play an important role in protecting victims from harm, enabling police to manage the risk posed by perpetrators more effectively. This pilot is much needed, and must be tested effectively so that when it is rolled out nationally, every victim is able to access a robust protective order.

These announcements represent a first step forward in government’s commitment to halve VAWG in a decade, and I look forward to working together to make this ambition a reality.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Domestic Abuse, Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, said:

Domestic abuse is a complex and entrenched societal problem that can inflict life-long harm on victims and families, and accounts for a significant proportion of police-recorded crime.

Providing support for victims and their families and to introduce effective and sustainable solutions to disrupt perpetrators is vital.

Policing is working hard to improve the way it responds to domestic abuse, from the moment a crime is reported through to conviction.

We remain deeply committed to working with partners, including government, as part of a whole-system approach to safeguard victims and pursue perpetrators. We welcome the government’s commitment to making improvements in this area.