Labour warned plan to jail fewer offenders undermines strategy to protect women and girls - UK politics live

Incoming victims’ commissioner warns government’s various strategies lack cohesionSchools have warned of growing misogyny from pupils towards teachers and a lack of avenues to seek help about concerns over sexually aggressive behaviour, Jess Phillips, the VAWG minister, has said. Jessica Elgot has the story.Here are some more extracts from the statement about the VAWG strategy issued by Claire Waxman, the incoming victims’ commissioner for England and Wales. Here comments about funding were quoted at 9.25am. But other points are worth noting.Waxman says that, while elements of the plan are welcome, it remains to be seen if, overall, it will provide what is needed.She specifically welcomes the plan to roll out nationally the Child House model for supporting child abuse victims.In terms of specific measures, the national rollout of the Child House model - pioneered by Lighthouse in London - is a welcome step I have long called for. It marks vital progress towards delivering on the recommendations of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse.She also welcomes the expansion of Operation Soteria, a police/CPS partnership to improve the prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences.I also welcome initiatives such as the expansion of Operation Soteria to reduce the re-traumatisation too many victims experience in the trial process. Long after my 2019 rape review, ‘end-to-end’ reform of the justice system for serious sexual offences is finally in sight - but only if the government now delivers on its commitment to independent legal advice for rape survivors, and tackles the long waits for justice.She says plans in the sentencing bill to limit the number of offenders being jailed will undermine the VAWG strategy.Without clear, sustainable investment and cross-government leadership, I am concerned we run the risk of the Strategy amounting to less than the sum of its parts; a wish-list of tactical measures rather than a bold, unifying strategic framework.The Sentencing Bill underlines this lack of cohesion. Victims need confidence that the system will protect them, yet under the proposals in the bill, the reality is that many abusers will avoid prison entirely or benefit from early release - undermining the very safety this Strategy seeks to guarantee. Continue reading...