The Prime Minister will accelerate the deadline for every police force in England and Wales to establish specialist rape and sexual offence teams.
The Prime Minister announced that every police force in England and Wales will now have a specialist rape and sexual offence team by December 2027. This deadline is a year and a half earlier than originally planned, aiming to provide communities with dedicated officers who possess specialist skills to investigate the worst crimes and provide trauma-informed care for survivors. To support these teams, the government is investing £13.3 million in new Violence Against Women and Girls Protection Order Teams. These teams will pioneer tougher ways to enforce court orders on perpetrators of domestic abuse, stalking, and forced marriage, with violators facing up to five years in prison. Additionally, the government is expanding the Drive Project by £53 million to target high-risk, serial domestic abusers. These initiatives are part of a £1 billion mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. The government aims to ensure that victims are supported by a policing system that provides effective protection and consequences for offenders.