MPS announces ‘step-change’ in the safety of women and girls 

The Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan outlines ten commitments to radically improve how the MPS protects women and girls and builds trust and confidence.

The plan aims to see more predators brought to justice, more victims protected from harm and safer spaces for women and girls to enjoy.

The MPS says it will create bigger teams to reduce caseloads for officers, provide a better service to victims and survivors, and will improve training and increase external scrutiny.

“Officers know the effectiveness of the Met’s response relies on the trust and confidence of women and it’s essential to listen and change,” the force added.

The MPS said it has charged 41 per cent more rape and serious sexual offences cases than last year, which is more than 500 more serious sexual offences including over 200 more rapes.

The number of stalking protection orders has doubled, with around 270 currently in force, and teams are now using cutting-edge technology and new techniques to catch stalkers.

“Officers are using innovative tactics, including advanced telephone data analysis, bringing the same successful tactics used against County Lines drugs dealers to identify stalkers and protect victims,” the MPS said.

“And the V100 project is identifying the most dangerous and violent sexual predators, which has already led to the convictions of eight men in the first three months.

“The most dangerous predatory men are being targeted by the Met, using new methods and working closely with local businesses and partners across London to make places and events safer for women and girls.”

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap, who leads on tackling violence against women and girls in the MPS, said: “We will be judged on our actions and not our words.

“The Met is working to make London safer for women and girls and we know our response needs to be shaped by those affected. This is how we will create confidence that we are a police service that women can trust.

“Our new plan is built around creating that trust and making our tactics more precise, more effective and better resourced.

“We are creating innovative tactics to better target those men who cause the most harm, to get results and ensure victims are at the very heart of our service.

“We have made some solid progress in recent months, increasing our charges for rape by 41 per cent when compared with last year. But it’s not enough and we are committed to bringing even more perpetrators to justice before they can harm again.

“Our plan will deliver over 500 extra officers and staff dedicated to swiftly identifying offenders, supporting victims, and making women and girls safer.

“We can’t do this alone and that is why we are working closely with local authorities, our communities, victims and many charities like the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.”

Recent findings from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust showed that only 1.4 per cent of reports of stalking to police in England and Wales ended in the stalker being convicted in year ending March 2022.