The Government has been accused of being “oblivious” to the true extent of violence against women and girls, in a damning report by the cross-party Public Accounts Committee. MPs warn that efforts to tackle the epidemic are being outpaced by soaring demand and a lack of joined-up working across departments.
The committee found that frontline services such as refuges are turning away around 65% of women who seek support, while community-based services are only able to meet half of the demand. Despite rising cases and stark statistics—showing at least one in 12 women affected annually and one in five recorded crimes related to violence against women—the Government’s monitoring does not capture the full picture.
The report condemned the Home Office for failing to include under-16s in its data, even though young people between 11 and 20 are among the most likely to become victims or perpetrators of sexual violence. It also criticised the lack of emphasis on preventative strategies and called for urgent investment and cross-departmental leadership.
Committee member Anna Dixon said: “While it was welcome to hear of recent attempts to coordinate departments, alarm bells rang when officials seemed unaware of the scope of the problem. We must do more than react—we must lead, prevent, and protect.”
The report called for clarity on how departments will engage with boys and young men to address the spread of harmful attitudes, particularly in online spaces. MPs flagged the dramatic rise in cases reported to the Revenge Porn Helpline—from just over 500 in 2015 to 22,000 in 2024—as symptomatic of a broader failure to address modern forms of abuse.
“The Department for Education needs to play a far greater role,” the report continued, “especially in countering misogynistic content across social media platforms, which exerts a powerful influence on boys and young men.”
MPs expressed concern that Whitehall lacks understanding of the challenges support services face, including pressure from the housing crisis and delays in the criminal justice system. Many services are struggling under short-term funding models, with grassroots organisations facing uncertainty despite their vital role.
The committee urged the Home Office to outline how it will implement its mission-led strategy and hold all departments accountable. It also recommended immediate action to stabilise funding and ensure survivors receive support through both criminal and family court systems.
Referencing the upcoming spending review, the committee called on the Government to confirm within one month how funding for tackling violence against women and girls will be coordinated and secured over the long term.
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In response, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said: “Every day, women and girls suffer the devastating impact of violence and abuse. I welcome this report and its timely recommendations. We will review them carefully and respond in due course.”
Phillips pointed to existing progress under the new Government, including the deployment of domestic abuse specialists in emergency control rooms across five police forces, trialling new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, and a process for police to release information on online stalkers.
“Our upcoming Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, set to launch this summer, will take a cross-government approach with prevention at its core,” she said. “We are determined to improve outcomes for victims, deliver justice, and change the culture that enables abuse to persist.”
Campaigners have long called for a national reckoning on the issue, and while the committee’s report signals growing political recognition, much will now depend on whether the Government follows through with meaningful action and long-term investment.
