“For too long, a blind eye has been turned”: Government action to tackle misogyny and relationship abuse welcomed by Spen Valley MP
New government action to tackle misogyny and relationship abuse among young people has been welcomed by Kim Leadbeater, the MP for Spen Valley.
Recent research has shown that over the last year alone, one in every eight women was a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking, with the government declaring violence against women and girls as a “national emergency”.
The plans unveiled will focus on prevention and tackling the root causes of abuse, clamping down on perpetrators, and improving victim support. This comes as the latest stats show that nearly 40 per cent of teenagers in relationships are a victim of relationship abuse.
All police forces in England and Wales will introduce specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams to hunt down perpetrators, with specialist investigators to apprehend, investigate and lock up rapists and sex offenders across the country.
Since coming to office, the Labour government has invested £550 million in the Victims Support Fund, introduced Raneem’s Law to place domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms across the first five police forces, and announced plans to give victims of domestic abuse and child sexual abuse faster, more reliable access to NHS support through a dedicated referral service.
By 2029, every police force will have dedicated rape and sexual offence investigation teams, and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders will be rolled out across England and Wales – including curfews, electronic tagging and exclusion zones for abusers. Since their initial rollout last year, these orders have already protected more than 1,000 victims, with breaches punishable by up to five years in prison.
Kim said: “For too long, a blind eye has been turned while violence against women and girls spread unchecked.
“Under this Government, this stops now. We have declared these crimes a national emergency. Labour is taking much needed action to protect girls, challenge dangerous attitudes and step in before abuse begins.
“Parents in Spen Valley deserve reassurance that their daughters are safe, which is why I am proud to support the government’s work to tackle Violence against Women and Girls - give young people the tools they need to build healthy, respectful relationships and a future free from abuse.”
Plans to increase VAWG prevention are being backed by a £20 million investment, which will see every secondary school in England strengthen education on healthy relationships and consent. This will be supported by specialist teacher training and early intervention for young people at risk of developing harmful behaviours.
A new national helpline will also be launched to support teenagers worried about abusive
behaviour in their relationships, ensuring concerns are addressed early rather than allowed to escalate into serious harm.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online and in her relationships. But too often toxic ideas are taking hold early and going unchallenged.
“This government is stepping in sooner - backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear - to stop harm before it starts.
“This is about protecting girls and driving forward education and conversation with boys and young men, which is a responsibility we owe to the next generation, and one this government will deliver.”
Kim added: “I have spent a lot of time this year visiting all the schools across the constituency, and time and again the same concerns arise from parents, teachers and young people – the pressures children face online is rife - especially misogynistic and incel content – and repeatedly I hear the plea for stronger support.”