Press Release
We need tougher action to end violence against women in London says Mayor
21-4-2009 187
Mayor Boris Johnson today called for tougher action on sex trafficking and a united fight to end violence against women in London. He also committed to tackling the growing use of sexual violence as a weapon by gangs in London.
When elected last year the Mayor pledged to make London safer for all Londoners. ‘The Way Forward – A call for action to end violence against women’, launched today at the Nia Project in Islington, is a key part of that commitment. Joining him at the launch was the Met Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Kit Malthouse AM and Ms. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking.
Violence against women affects everyone in London. It is linked to higher levels of child poverty, increased levels of substance abuse and costs the city approximately £5.6bn a year. Last year the number of reported rapes in the capital increased by 14.5 percent and domestic violence incidents rose by 4.4 per cent. Yet only an estimated ten percent of women who have been raped or sexually assaulted report it to the police and only six per cent of all rape cases end in a conviction.
‘The Way Forward’ puts prevention of violence against women at its core and will, for the first time, bring the work of the police, local authorities, third sector, NHS and criminal justice system to end all forms of violence against women together under one umbrella.
Through the strategy the Mayor plans to:
· Work with the Met Police to get tough on trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women ahead of 2012.
· Tackle the increasing use of sexual violence as a weapon by gangs through his Time for Action strategy
· Support boroughs who want to control the proliferation of lap dancing clubs in their areas
· Work closely with boroughs to enhance the provision of front line services such as rape crisis centres across London
· Use his position as chair of the MPA to push for better training of police officers to deal with violence against women and to improve front desk services at police stations.
· Ensure that the London Delivery Board to end rough sleeping considers the specific needs of women.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:
“ Women make an incredible contribution to London’s success and for the vast majority, the capital offers unparalleled opportunities and a fantastic quality of life. However, there are a significant number of women in London whose lives are blighted by the violence of men, something which is wholly unacceptable.
“The current approach by the Government is far too piecemeal to work and doesn’t offer any concerted attempt to prevent violence against women. For any plan to work we must have the police, local authorities, community organisations, health sector and criminal justice system all working together across borough boundaries. We also need to get tougher. Tougher on the perpetrators of violence, who currently enjoy a ridiculous level of immunity, and tougher on the attitudes that condone violence against women.
“I believe by working together we can make London a safe place for everyone to live. We are asking for people's views on this plan, so that we can fully identify the gaps in services available to women in London and what is really needed on the ground.”
Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for Policing said:
“It’s important to remember that violence against women doesn’t just affect individuals, it impacts on men and women, children and families and the wider community. We believe that for too long, too many women’s lives have been affected by the violence or the threat of violence.
“This administration has the political will to challenge the perpetrators of violence and to revolutionise how London responds to violence against women. Women can be affected by violence in many different and personal ways; therefore we decided that it was vital to develop a strategy that would tackle the range of crimes experienced by women. This document sets out our proposals for an integrated strategy, to tackle violence against women, with the goal of eradicating it – a first for London.”
The Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, Metropolitan Police Service said: "The Metropolitan Police Service has a key role in tackling this serious issue and, with our partners, we remain committed to bringing all perpetrators of violence to justice and properly supporting those affected by such crime.
"I welcome the launch of the London strategy and assure Londoners that the Met remains committed to our part in achieving its aims."
Ms. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking said:
“ I welcome the Mayor’s plan to end violence against women and girls in London. Women and girls experience violence in a very different way from men. In the vast majority of cases they are targeted not because of what they have done, but because they are female. The trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and young girls is a particularly brutal form of sexual violence with many of the women and girls involved experiencing high levels of violence and repeated rape. It is very encouraging to see the Mayor and other stakeholders seeking strong action to put an end to trafficking in London ahead of the Olympic Games in 2012. ”
Since being elected Boris Johnson has put an extra 440 police officers on the transport network and 50 extra British Transport Police at suburban rail stations to increase the safety of female passengers and alongside the Met and TfL, lead a crack-down on illegal minicabs in London.
On April 22nd the Mayor, with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, host a round table discussion at City Hall about how to take forward work to tackle trafficking and sexual exploitation ahead of the 2012 Games.
‘The Way Forward’ is open for consultation until July 20th. To have your say go to www.london.gov.uk/mayor/crime/vaw/
Ends
Key statistics
· Women in London are more likely to be worried about being raped (48.1 percent) and fear violent crime (70 percent). (Source: Home Office, 2004-8, British Crime Survey.)
· Compared to the rest of the country, London has the lowest percentage of successful outcomes for violence against women offences – only 58 percent of cases are successful. (Source: Crown Prosecution Service, 2008, Violence Against Women Crime Report 2007-2008, p54)
· London has higher than average rates of domestic violence (Source: British Crime Survey)
· There was a 4.4 per cent rise in the number of domestic violence crimes reported in London during March 2008 to March 2009 (Source: Met Police Crime Statistics, 16 April 2009)
· Police remain unaware of 81 percent of domestic violence victims (Source: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0308.pdf)
· Approximately 90,000 London children witness domestic violence each year (Source: estimated from national figures of at least 750,000, Dept of Health, 2002)
· There is co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse in at least 40% of cases (Source: Walby, 2004, The Cost of Domestic Violence)
· There was a 14.5 percent rise in the number of rapes reported in London between March 2008 to March 2009 on the previous year (Source: Met Police Crime Statistics, 16 April 2009)
· A women is more likely to be sexually assaulted than she is to get breast cancer (Source: New Philanthropy Capital, 2008, Hard Knock Life)
· On average just 10 per cent of rapes are reported to the police (Source: Women’s Resource Centre & Rape Crisis March 2008, the Crisis in Rape Crisis: A survey of Rape Crisis)
· Just 6 per cent of all rapes result in conviction (Source: Kelly, Lovett & Regan, 2005, A Gap or a Chasm? Attrition in Reported Rape Cases)
· The Forced Marriage Unit recorded 1618 cases of forced marriage across the UK in 2008. 339 of those cases were identified in London. (Source: Forced Marriage Unit)
36% of rapes and sexual assaults reported to police are of under 16s, the vast majority of whom are female (Walker, Kershaw & Nicholas, 2006, Crime in England and Wales 2005/06)
Notes to Editors
1. The Mayor is keen to hear the views of Londoners and London agencies and voluntary sector organisations on this proposed programme for action. To participate in the consultation process please visit the consultation website at www.london.gov.uk and submit your response to the specific questions by
In addition to the public, community organisations and practitioners, the Mayor will be seeking the views of third sector groups in this field, and of the GLA Group, London Councils, Government departments, the London Criminal Justice Board, borough councils, community and women’s organisations and the NHS.
Based on the consultation responses and other discussions, the Mayor intends to publish a further document in Autumn 2009.
2. On November 3rd 2008 the Mayor launched ‘Time for Action’ his strategy to end youth crime in London. The plan includes projects that will bring a radical new approach to the rehabilitation of first time offenders, mentoring schemes for young people in care, increasing self-respect of vulnerable young people, ways to tackle truancy and gangs in the capital and help for parents.
3. A full copy of ‘The Way Forward’ is available at www.london.gov.uk/mayor/crime/vaw/.
4. The closing date for consultation on 'The Way Forward' is July 20th 2009.
5. The cost to London of £5.6bn a year has been calculated from London’s share of the cost of £40 billion for England and Wales (14% on the basis of population). Source calNew Philanthropy Capital, 2008, Hard Knock Life.
6. The Way Forward focuses on crime against women, however the strategy will sit alongside existing policies and procedures that provide protection for all victims of crime.
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