AUTHORITIES must immediately and unequivocally prioritise tackling an epidemic of violence against women and girls, a police watchdog has warned.

An interim report by HM’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services is calling for councils, schools, health and social care bodies and all areas of the criminal justice system to work together to address the problem. 

The watchdog, which was asked by the government to investigate the police’s effectiveness in engaging with women and girls, stressed that officers “cannot solve this alone.” 

Its report concludes that radical and bold changes are needed to tackle crimes that disproportionately affect women and girls. 

This should be supported with multiyear sustained funding, backed by solid evidence, the report adds. 

The inspectors also call for the government, police, criminal justice system and public sector to “immediately and unequivocally” commit to prioritising the response to violence against women and girls. 

Inspector of constabulary Zoe Billingham said: “We are living during a national epidemic of violence against women and girls. The prevalence and range of offending and harm is stark and shocking.”

Women’s groups welcomed the recommendations but said that reforms are also needed to address discrimination in the justice system. 

End Violence Against Women Coalition director Andrea Simon said: “Women and girls who are black or minority ethnic, disabled, LGBT or who face multiple disadvantage too often encounter institutional discrimination and harmful myths and stereotypes in their interactions with criminal justice agencies.”

Solace Women’s Aid public affairs manager Erin Mansell said: “We urge the government to take decisive action now and use the comprehensive spending review to demonstrate that ending male violence against women is a political priority all year round and not just when a tragic and avoidable murder of another woman makes the headlines.”