Commissioner welcomes national centre to tackle violence against women and girls

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd has welcomed the UK Government’s announcement of a £13m police centre that will prioritise tackling violence against women and girls across England and Wales.

The centre will bring together around 100 officers and staff to provide a national coordinating function, ensuring that all victims of child sexual abuse, rape and sexual offences, domestic abuse and stalking get a consistent level of support. It also aims to drive up investigative and operational standards across the country.

The new centre will form part of the UK Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls over the next ten years, and treat these crimes as a national emergency as part of its wider Safer Streets Mission.

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd said: “I am reassured that the UK Government is taking the threat to women and girls seriously, and prioritising it as part of its commitment to building a safer country. This is a huge opportunity for police forces across the UK to share learning and expertise, and to use data, intelligence and the voice of victims to shape future services.

“The safety of women and girls is a priority for me and will feature prominently in my forthcoming Police and Crime Plan. I look forward understanding more about how the new centre will benefit local policing, and how it will help us to make a real difference to the lives of people in Gwent, when it launches later in the year.”