Charities have cautioned that victims of domestic and sexual violence may lose essential support due to funding reductions and increases in employers’ national insurance payments.
The chiefs of five prominent victims’ and women’s charities have written to the Prime Minister, indicating that these actions could endanger his commitment to cut violence against women and girls (VAWG) by half.
In a collective correspondence, Rape Crisis England and Wales, Victim Support, Welsh Women’s Aid, Imkaan, and the Women’s Aid Federation of England emphasized that support for survivors is essential “now more than ever.”
The letter states: “The criminal justice system is in turmoil. Public trust in the police has plummeted, and court backlogs have hit unprecedented levels. Offences related to VAWG now represent twenty percent of all recorded crime.
“Our crucial support services are needed now more than ever, so by reducing funding and escalating National Insurance contributions, this government is jeopardizing their future and perhaps depriving hundreds of thousands of women and girls who have faced gender-based violence of assistance. Should these measures proceed, we believe your ambition to cut VAWG is at risk.”
The letter further indicates that, according to the Rape Crisis England and Wales survey report, one-third of Rape Crisis centers anticipate issuing redundancy notices before the conclusion of the financial year, with thirty percent of directors expressing concern that they may have to shut their facilities.
The funding reductions and the rise in employers’ national insurance contributions will take effect from April next year.
The increase in national insurance contributions alone is projected to cost these organizations “many millions of pounds,” yet the charities stress that “the detriment to victims of crime will be significantly greater.”
What to Do If You’ve Been Raped
If you have been subjected to rape, whether recently or in the past, and are seeking assistance, help is available.
- If you have recently experienced rape and are still in danger, call 999 and request the police. Otherwise, your first step should be to move to a safe location.
- If you wish to report your rape to the police, call 999 or use the non-emergency police line at 101. An Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ISVA) will often be available to guide you through the reporting process, and even after you give a statement, you still have the option to withdraw from the criminal justice system at any time.
- If you decide to approach the police, please refrain from washing your clothing or showering, bathing, or brushing your teeth if feasible. If you do change clothes, keep the garments you were wearing in a plastic bag. These actions will aid in retaining any DNA evidence that your assailant may have left on your body or clothing.
- If you prefer not to reach out to the police, Rape Crisis recommends confiding in someone you trust about what has occurred; alternatively, you can contact one of the numerous rape and sexual assault helplines available across the UK.
- Individuals aged 16 and older can reach Rape Crisis’s 24/7 Support Line by dialing 0808 500 2222 or initiating an online chat.
- If you have sustained injuries, it is advisable to visit your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department for medical attention. If you are uninjured, you can go to your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). The NHS provides information on locating your nearest center here.
- If you are dealing with a historical rape case, you can still obtain support, including from the police – there’s no deadline for reporting, and your account can still serve as evidence.
For further reading, click here.
“The Government has repeatedly assured that it is safeguarding services for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, but as providers of these services, we find this is not the case,” the letter continues.
“Increases in national insurance will lead to actual cuts to services.”
The correspondence further states: “We, along with others in the sector, will have no option but to counter these costs by depleting reserves, implementing layoffs, creating waiting lists, and reducing services.”
“We will have to slash services and victims will suffer.”
As a result, the charities have requested an increase in their funding, as well as a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer to discuss these concerns and ongoing support for victims.
Katie Kempen, chief executive of Victim Support, remarked: “Shutting our doors to vulnerable victims of crime is the last action we wish to take. However, we may be compelled to do so.”
“The Government must swiftly reverse the proposed cuts and instead enhance the funding for victims’ services to accommodate increases in national insurance.”
“If they fail to act, the grim reality is that those who have endured the shock and trauma of crime, including survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, will be deprived of crucial support.”
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024, Metro initiated This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign aimed at tackling the ongoing pandemic of violence against women.
Throughout the year, we will present narratives that illuminate the vastness of this crisis.
With support from our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aspires to involve and empower our readership in addressing the issue of violence against women.
Explore more articles here, and if you wish to share your story with us, please email us at vaw@metro.co.uk.
Explore further:
- Unveiling This Is Not Right: Metro’s year-long initiative against violence towards women
- Yvette Cooper addresses abusers and rapists: The streets do not belong to you
- Honoring the women murdered by men in 2024
- Narratives of violence against women fail to resonate—here’s why
- Men – your assistance is crucial to halt violence against women
- Steps to take if a loved one is in danger from domestic abuse
The Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid Federation of England, Isabelle Younane, stated: ‘Domestic abuse constitutes a national crisis; nevertheless, our network of life-saving services nationwide faces dismantling due to years of insufficient funding and escalating costs.
‘If all women and children cannot access the expert assistance they require to escape abuse and reconstruct their lives, the Government risks jeopardizing its commendable promise to reduce violence against women and girls by half over the next decade.
‘We call upon the Prime Minister to secure these essential services financially and fulfill his manifesto obligation to the British populace.’
A Government spokesperson responded: ‘This government inherited a criminal justice system under significant strain alongside a deficit in national finances.
‘Our commitment to reducing violence against women and girls is a major priority, and we are devoted to ensuring that we can provide the justice that victims deserve, through our courts and throughout the system.
‘By safeguarding support for survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse, we are guaranteeing that assistance is accessible to victims of these heinous offenses as they strive to rebuild their lives.’
Contact our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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