The government has pledged to tackle violence against women and girls with the same intensity and resources as the fight against terrorism and organised crime.
A New Strategic Front
Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips unveiled the long-awaited Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy in the House of Commons on Thursday 18 December 2025. She declared that a fundamental shift in approach was now underway, promising that "change is coming".
Central to the new plan is the use of advanced forensic technology and data analysis to hunt down rapists and sex offenders. Ms Phillips stated that police forces across the country will adopt "the same data driven approach to tracking offenders that we apply to terrorists and serious organised criminals."
A National Mission
Addressing MPs, the minister framed the challenge as a societal epidemic that requires a collective response. "It will take all of society to step up and end the epidemic of abuse and violence that shames our country," she asserted.
Despite acknowledging the scale of the task, Ms Phillips expressed strong confidence in the nation's ability to confront it. "The challenge is great, but I have never felt more confident that we can rise to it than I do today," she told the Commons. Her ultimate goal, she said, was to finally "make women and girls safe at last."
What Happens Next?
The announcement marks the formal publication of a strategy that has been in development since the Labour government took office. While full details are still emerging, the commitment to applying counter-terrorism-level tactics and technology signals a significant escalation in the state's response to gender-based violence.
The government is expected to roll out further operational details and funding allocations in the coming weeks as it begins to implement this new, hardened approach to protecting women and girls.
