The recent announcement of the National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection is a promising step towards tackling crimes that disproportionately impact women and girls. With over £13 million in government funding, the Centre will place the experiences of victims of child sexual abuse, rape, domestic abuse, and stalking at the core of police investigations. SWGfL, as well as the work of the Revenge Porn Helpline, welcomes this initiative whilst recognising that, as always, until the Centre is in full operation, the specific details around how protections are actioned remains unclear.
Prioritising Responses Towards VAWG
One of the most significant aspects of this new Centre is its commitment to elevating the response to violence against women and girls (VAWG) to the same level as counterterrorism and online child sexual abuse. This long-overdue approach acknowledges the severity of these crimes and the necessity for a coordinated, intelligence-led response that will drive up standards. Ensuring victims receive consistent and specialist support across England and Wales is a crucial and positive step forward.
However, while this initiative signals progress, it is vital that intimate image abuse (IIA) is treated with the same seriousness as online child sexual abuse. The devastating impact on victims demands that images created as result of this abuse are treated no differently. The rapid rise of image-based sexual abuse demands robust, proactive policing that recognises the severity of these offences and their long-lasting consequences.
Supporting the Work of the Centre
We would welcome the opportunity to work with the new Centre in delivering victim-centred training on intimate image abuse. Effective training is essential to ensuring police officers and staff understand the nuances of these crimes and respond with sensitivity and expertise. Victims of online abuse, including intimate image abuse, deserve to have their experiences taken seriously and addressed with the same urgency as other forms of exploitation.
The establishment of this Centre also underscores the importance of evidence and intelligence-led approaches, prioritising public protection work within policing and ensuring that future police leaders possess the necessary experience and training. Deploying tactics used to tackle other serious offences in the pursuit of perpetrators will be instrumental in bringing them to conviction.
Sophie Mortimer (Revenge Porn Helpline Manager) said: '‘This encouraging initiative should inspire confidence that the increased focus around tackling VAWG will greatly improve protections. However, this initiative must be backed by clear, actionable policies that leave no gaps in protection. We remain committed to advocating for those affected by online harm whilst ensuring that intimate image abuse is given the attention it demands and included within ongoing discussions.’’
