Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
Inadequate data recording obscures the full extent of VAWG, particularly for minoritised groups.
Recommendation
Written evidence submitted to the Committee highlighted the importance of ensuring all specific VAWG crime types are reflected within this target, and that there is transparency over how these crimes impact different people. Southall Black Sisters told us that the full extent of harms perpetrated against Black, minoritised and migrant survivors is not known due to inadequate data recording. They also stressed the importance of addressing the gaps in data by monitoring how different trends emerge by protected characteristic and by crime type.50 Professor Katrin Hohl told us that without data, government departments can have no idea the prevalence of specific crime types, and have no ability to understand what is working to reduce VAWG.51 45 Q 21; C&AG’s Report, para 16 46 Q 62 47 Q 46 48 C&AG’s Report, para 3.18 49 Q 46 50 VAWG0078 51 Q5 17
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and will implement a broad suite of new metrics, including headline and sub-metrics, to measure VAWG prevalence and monitor trends by September 2025. Further details on data sources and measures will be published in the new VAWG Strategy to ensure comprehensive data collection and transparency across government departments.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: September 2025 5.2 The government will use a broad suite of metrics to comprehensively measure the ambition and work on tackling VAWG. This will include a headline metric on the prevalence of VAWG as reported through the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). This will be measured by a new combined measure of those who have experienced domestic abuse, and/or sexual assault and/or stalking in the previous 12 months. The target to halve VAWG within a decade will be set against this headline prevalence measure. 5.3 The government will use supporting headline metrics covering repeat domestic abuse, the prevalence of sexual harassment as measured by the CSEW, and female homicides. A range of other sub-metrics will be used to provide a more comprehensive picture of VAWG in society and measure the effectiveness of the interventions. The suite of sub-metrics will be set out in the new VAWG Strategy. It will include data related to forms of VAWG not covered by the headline or supporting headline metrics, such as online VAWG. The range of measures and data sources selected will ensure that victim interactions with services outside of policing and the CJS are captured, including education, housing and healthcare. This will allow the government to monitor the whole system response to tackling VAWG and the success of the range of interventions outlined in the Strategy. 5.4 The Safer Streets Mission provides the forum by which departments will share relevant information on VAWG. All government departments have contributed to the development of the performance framework, ensuring a range of metrics are included on the scale of VAWG and the full government response. Further detail will be published in the VAWG Strategy.