Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Accepted
Mandate Home Office to outline greater emphasis on preventative VAWG measures and inter-departmental collaboration.
Recommendation
We are concerned that, to date, the approach to tackling violence against women and girls has not put enough emphasis on preventative measures that are necessary to achieve long–term change. Although it is imperative that all survivors receive effective support, government needs to do more to prevent perpetrators committing these crimes in the first instance. It is shocking to hear that the most likely age range to become a survivor or perpetrator of sexual violence is between 11–20 years old. Many government departments have significant roles to play if 6 sustainable change is to be achieved, particularly those working closely with children and young people. For example, it is vital that DfE prioritises this issue and does more to educate children and young people on healthy relationships to reduce the chance of them becoming perpetrators in the future. We are not convinced that DfE is doing all it can to support work with young boys to prevent harmful attitudes perpetuating. Work such as Operation Encompass (a police and education sharing partnership designed to deliver a more joined up approach to supporting children as survivors of domestic abuse) shows the key role that education can play in tackling this issue by supporting survivors, but also in preventing children from becoming perpetrators in the future. However, neither Home Office nor DfE could tell us the proposed start date of implementation. We welcome these sorts of initiatives but remain unconvinced that DfE is prioritising this issue sufficiently and doing all it can to prevent these crimes occurring. recommendation As part of the Treasury Minute response to this report, the Home Office should outline: • how it intends to put greater emphasis on preventative measures over and above work it has done previously through its upcoming Strategy, to achieve long–term change; and • how it will work with other relevant departments, notably the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, MHCLG and MoJ, to ensure
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and will put greater emphasis on preventative measures in the forthcoming VAWG Strategy, focusing on challenging societal norms, educating children, and identifying early risk factors. It highlights ongoing collaboration with departments like DfE, DSIT, MHCLG, and MoJ, with the review of Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance nearing completion and further details to be published in the Strategy.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. approach to halving VAWG in a decade. A key part of the Home Office’s approach will be improving the policing, criminal and family justice response. However, enforcement alone is not enough. The preventative measures in the forthcoming VAWG Strategy will be designed to achieve long-term change, underpinned by the Theory of Change. This includes challenging the societal norms, attitudes and misconceptions about relationships and consent, how children are educated in school, in communities and online, and identifying those early risk factors in children and families so that fewer children go on to perpetrate abuse or become victims themselves. Prevention of VAWG is a wide-reaching area requiring cross-government effort across DfE, DCMS, MHCLG, DSIT and MoJ, and others. The review process for the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance is almost complete and new guidance will be published in the coming months. The Home Office and the Department for Education have worked closely with a range of stakeholders including those who are working to end VAWG to get the guidance right. The Home Office has met with young people who shared their experiences as well as contributing ideas on practical steps schools should take on these matters. Ministers in the Home Office and Department for Education are continuing to work together to ensure that future funding will deliver a positive and lasting impact for children and young people. More detail on this joint work between the Department for Education and the Home Office will be set out in the forthcoming VAWG Strategy The Home Office will also continue to work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to enhance media literacy among children and parents, so that they are educated to critically assess and be aware of content they are viewing online, including misogynistic content. The government’s Opportunity Mission is also dedicated to setting up every child with the best start in life, helping all children to achieve and thrive and creating environments in which young people feel they belong - these are the best available tools for combating violence and prejudice, including misogyny. The implementation of the actions outlined in this response by September 2025 is contingent on the publication of the Tackling VAWG Strategy within that timeframe.