Trevi declares ENOUGH is ENOUGH in response to National Police Chiefs Council Report on Violence Against Women and Girls
Trevi, the leading women’s charity in the southwest, has once again declared ‘ENOUGH is ENOUGH’ following the publication of a worrying report by the National Police Chiefs Council. The report sheds light on the epidemic scale of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Key findings from the report include:
- Over one million VAWG-related crimes were recorded during 2022-23, accounting for 20% of all police-recorded crime.
- VAWG crimes increased by 37% between 2018 and 2023.
- At least 1 in every 12 women will be a victim each year.
- Child sexual abuse and exploitation surged by more than 400% between 2013 and 2022.
Domestic abuse remains one of the most significant demands on policing, with arrests for domestic abuse-related offenses increasing by over 22% in the year ending March 2023 compared to the previous year. In Plymouth alone, domestic violence accounts for 27% of all violent crimes, significantly higher than the national average of 16%. In 2022, there were 6,933 reported cases of domestic abuse, a 21% increase from the previous year.
In response to the alarming rise in domestic violence incidents, Trevi launched its award-winning ENOUGH campaign in 2023. The charity has since been tirelessly spreading the ENOUGH message across Plymouth, urging community involvement in ending violence against women and girls. Trevi collaborates with Plymouth City Council, the NSPCC, Devon & Cornwall Police, First Light, M.A.N Culture Plymouth, Plymouth Domestic Abuse Services, and the Plymouth NHS Trust to amplify their message year-round.
Established in 1993, Trevi operates four services and two outreach programs, supporting predominantly survivors of male violence. The Sunflower Women’s Centre, one of Trevi’s key services, received 530 referrals last year, with over 75% seeking support for domestic violence. The centre offers a range of courses, including the Freedom Programme, creative therapies, and drop-in women’s spaces to help women heal and rebuild their lives.
Trevi’s newest initiative, Blossom Women’s House, opened in October 2023, providing safe, women-only accommodation. Since its inception, 82% of the women admitted have been victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence, underscoring the growing need for such services.
The National Police Chiefs Council report also highlights the detrimental impact of technology on young people, exposing them to harmful content that could lead to radicalisation into extreme misogyny and the normalisation of violent behaviour towards women and girls. Addressing this concern, Trevi organised an online conference on pornography last year, attracting over 500 professionals globally. The conference stressed the extreme violence and disturbing nature of acts depicted in pornography towards women.
Hannah Shead, CEO of Trevi, stated, ‘We agree that violence against women and girls is an epidemic in this country and welcome further focus and direction from the government to tackle this. Plymouth has seen first-hand the devastating impact of male violence against women and girls and we have observed an increase in the southwest over recent years, which is why we have been calling out ENOUGH is ENOUGH. We are grateful to our city partnerships that help tackle VAWG and will continue working tirelessly to address this. We want to live in a community that does not tolerate a society where women and girls are in danger of harm and abuse.’
For more information on how to support the ENOUGH campaign or if you or someone you know needs assistance, please visit www.endvawg.org.uk.
