What we are doing to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

We are committed to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) working with our partners so that women and girls can feel, and be, safe in the county.

VAWG includes a wide range of offences including domestic abuse, sexual offences, honour-based abuse, stalking, coercive control, spiking and even murder.

Misogynistic behaviour that may not reach the legal threshold of a crime, can still have a significant impact on women and girls, making locations or activities feel unsafe and women having to change their behaviour to avoid them. The impact on victims and survivors of these offences can be life changing.

Men and boys are also victims of these offences, and we offer the same support and service to them as we do women and girls. However, women and girls are disproportionately affected by these offences, and as a result it is necessary to develop a strategic response to this problem.

VAWG is recognised as one of the most serious issues affecting public safety.  Following the tragic murder of Sarah Everard in 2021, there has been a fundamental shift in the way police forces focus on VAWG. In 2023, the Home Secretary included VAWG within strategic policing.

The VAWG strategy has four key priorities: prevention, protection, pursuit of perpetrators and preparation within policing. We work with specialist partner agencies and communities to develop and improve our response to VAWG.

We support the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign, alongside other organisations across the county.

Our Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit is dedicated to supporting and protecting victims and investigating offences sensitively. The force has introduced Operation Vigilant, which targets men who prey on women during the night-time economy and we have been working more closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to improve investigations and prosecutions.

We have adopted Operation Soteria in Hertfordshire to improve the way we manage and investigate sexual crimes. This national programme, launched by the Home Office in 2021, aims to more than double the number of adult rape cases reaching court. 

We are also part of the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership and we are accredited by the White Ribbon campaign to end men’s violence against women.