Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is not just a national crisis – it is a moral emergency. In the West Midlands, the scale of this crisis is staggering. Every 30 seconds, a woman or girl reports an incident of violence to the police. In my own constituency of Wolverhampton West, these offences are the most reported crimes, year after year.
Last week, I was able to host a Westminster Hall debate on Government support for prosecutions relating to VAWG in the West Midlands. The debate highlighted the urgent need for systemic changes and increased funding to ensure that justice is served swiftly and effectively. It was an important step in bringing attention to this critical issue, and advocating for the necessary reforms.
As a member of the Justice Select Committee, I am aware of the devastating impact of VAWG and the systemic failures that too often follow. The statistics are sobering – in the year ending March 2023, West Midlands Police recorded over 81,000 domestic abuse-related crimes – the highest rate in England and Wales. Yet, of the 7,744 reports of rape or sexual assault, only 217 resulted in a charge or conviction. That is a prosecution rate of just 2.8%.
This is unacceptable.
The Government has taken some important steps. The introduction of Raneem’s Law, named in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, embeds domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms. New Domestic Abuse Protection Orders and independent legal advocates for rape victims are also being rolled out. Whilst these are welcome developments, they are not enough.
Delays in our court system are leaving victims vulnerable and disillusioned. One of my constituents, a survivor of repeated domestic violence, was forced to move from her home due to delays in securing a non-molestation order. She felt abandoned by the very system meant to protect her.
The roots of this crisis lie in years of chronic underfunding. Between 2010 and 2023, the justice budget fell by 22% in real terms. Nearly half of our courts were closed. The result? A record backlog of over 3,500 adult rape cases and an average wait of over six years from report to verdict. Justice delayed is indeed justice denied.
The legal profession is also in crisis. Poor legal aid fees and the emotional toll of handling distressing cases have driven many barristers away from prosecuting rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO). In 2023 alone, 139 sex offence trials were
postponed due to a lack of prosecution barristers. Another 113 trials were delayed because no defence counsel was available. One in four trials now fail to proceed as scheduled.
Despite these challenges, there are glimmers of hope. West Midlands Police has implemented a VAWG strategy that prioritises justice and evidence-based investigation. The Government has increased funding for criminal legal aid and committed to recruiting 1,000 judges annually. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan, working with the police to deliver more timely justice for victims, resulting in an increase in prosecutions.
But we must go further.
Labour has pledged to establish specialist courts for RASSO cases at every Crown Court location in England and Wales, to fast-track cases and reduce delays. By providing separate waiting areas in court buildings and improving the submission of evidence remotely, we can give victims the reassurance they deserve, during what can be an incredibly distressing process.
We also need a dedicated, adequately funded cohort of specialist lawyers, with ringfenced legal aid funding, fair remuneration, and mental health support.
Victims must be at the heart of our justice system. This means access to sexual violence advisers and domestic abuse advocates who can guide survivors through the legal process. It means ensuring that survivors are not retraumatised by the very institutions meant to protect them.
We can learn from success stories. Warwickshire Police, once the lowest in the country for rape convictions, now leads with a 13.4% charge rate, thanks to dedicated teams, early CPS involvement, and officer training.
Tackling violence against women and girls is not just a policy goal – it is a moral imperative. We must overhaul our broken justice system, which includes the prison service and the courts, with urgency and compassion. Every woman and girl deserves to live free from fear, and every survivor deserves justice.
Justice For Women And Girls Cannot Wait
