PCC responds to release of Government's Freedom from Violence and Abuse Strategy
18.12.25 - Merseyside
Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed the release of the Government's Freedom from Violence and Abuse Strategy, while setting out her ongoing commitment to make Merseyside safer for every woman and girl.
Emily Spurrell said: “I welcome the launch of the Government’s new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy today, which rightly recognises the scale of the challenge we face and the urgent need to confront the epidemic levels of violence, abuse and harassment women continue to face in their homes, online or in our communities.
“I support the focus on stronger policing measures, particularly the expansion of specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams and new approaches to tracking and targeting perpetrators. Tools such as Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, which have already supported 1,000 victims in pilot areas, and the DRIVE project to break cycles of high‑risk offending, are encouraging developments.
“As is the focus on forces using data to track offenders in the same way we do for terrorists and serious organised criminals, ensuring a more consistent, intelligence‑led approach nationwide.
“Education and early intervention are critical if we are to make our society safer for women and girls in the future, so the commitments to education and prevention are particularly welcome. The £20m investment to tackle harmful attitudes among young people, alongside curriculum changes and specialist training for teachers and external providers, will help embed healthy relationships and consent into early learning.
“If we are serious about preventing violence, we must cut off the pathways where boys and men are exposed to misogyny and harmful content. Piloting targeted interventions in schools where harmful behaviours are emerging – as well as practical training for parents and professionals to spot the early warning signs of misogyny and coercive attitudes – will be key to this, as will be the new measures to make the UK one of the hardest places to access harmful content online.
“The strategy’s whole‑system approach – spanning local government, the third sector, housing providers and healthcare – aligns closely with the work we have been focused on delivering through our region‑wide VAWG Strategy. Working with nearly 50 partners, we have made significant progress in prevention, safeguarding, training and specialist support since its launch in 2022. We will use the focus and priorities set out in this strategy to inform our refreshed strategy and build on the foundations from the past three years.
“Tackling VAWG was my motivation for standing to be PCC and since I have taken post it has been my absolute priority. Despite the challenges caused by short term funding cycles, I have worked hard to deliver a model which has strengthened, not fragmented, support: commissioning specialist services, rooted in our communities, to reach those who need them most. I am proud of the progress we have made together.
“National consistency is important, but it must not come at the expense of local knowledge, local leadership and local accountability. Local commissioning allows us to respond directly to what victim‑survivors tell us they need - not a one‑size‑fits‑all system imposed from the centre.
“Here in Merseyside, our support services do an incredible job providing specialist support tailored to local need however, they are already under immense pressure, so we will continue to push for increased, ring-fenced funding for their vital services.
“Additional helplines, GP‑based routes to support, and £50m for specialist therapeutic care for victims of child abuse will help strengthen the safety net for those who need it most.
“At the heart of all our work must be victim‑survivors. Their lived experience is essential in shaping both local and national action and must always be at the forefront of all our minds. We have put their voices centre stage of every phase of our Taking Action campaign challenging harmful attitudes and behaviours.
“Tackling violence against women and girls is a long‑term commitment - one that demands relentless focus, determination and collaboration. Above all, it demands that we never lose sight of the women and girls whose lives, safety and futures depend on real change.
“Their experiences shape our priorities, and their courage drives our work to make our region safer for every woman and girl.”