Preventing violence against women and girls

As Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, I remain firmly committed to addressing all forms of violence directed at women and girls. My office continues to work closely with Surrey Police, local partners, and charities to shine a light on harmful behaviours, ensure those responsible are held to account, and provide victims with the care, support, and protection they rightly deserve.

Key progress during 2024/25: 

• Educating to Prevent VAWG: This year marks the final phase of our highly successful Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Supporting Children project. One of the key highlights has been the completion of our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) leaders and champions training – a vital initiative designed to sustainably prevent violence against women and girls through education.
• Over 100 teachers from across Surrey, alongside numerous external providers and services, took part in this training. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and to ensure lasting impact, an on-demand version was developed and is now hosted on the Healthy Surrey website. These materials help school staff recognise different types of crime, understand the support available across Surrey, and know how and when to access expert help. They will also remain publicly accessible, embedding the legacy of this work for years to come.
• In Spring 2024, we also launched the truly preventative “Ok to ASK?” campaign, aimed at addressing Youth Produced Sexual Imagery. It was designed to initiate thought, challenge perceptions, and empower young people to reject harmful behaviour while supporting their peers. The campaign evaluation showed a clear shift in views – with most young people who engaged with it saying they now view asking for “nudes” as unacceptable, and reporting a greater awareness of the harms caused by this behaviour.
• The above work has also supported the development of new lesson plans focused on digital safety. These will be available for schools to use from Spring 2025, helping to sustain the momentum of the campaign and further support schools in addressing this sensitive but vital topic.
  
  

• Championing Access to Pre-Trial Therapy: In November 2024, I was pleased to fund and support the delivery of multi-agency training in Surrey through the Bluestar Project – aimed at improving access to pre-trial therapy (PTT) for both adult and child survivors of sexual abuse who have reported their experiences to the police.
• My office worked closely with senior stakeholders across Surrey to ensure strong engagement, with 27 professionals attending the training. Attendees included representatives from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC), Surrey Police officers, and senior prosecutors from the Crown Prosecution Service’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit.
• The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, helping to clarify the PTT process, debunk common myths, manage expectations, and strengthen trust and collaboration between victim support services, the police, and the CPS. Most importantly, it helped ensure that survivors can access the therapy they need to begin healing, without fear that it will compromise their case.
  
  
• Continuing Support Through the Surrey Steps to Change Hub: With support from my team, the Surrey Steps to Change Hub has continued to provide a safe and supportive space for individuals seeking to stop the harm caused by domestic abuse and stalking. By offering access to localised, specialist interventions, the hub plays a vital role in increasing survivor safety and reducing the harm caused by those who use harmful behaviours in their relationships.
• The hub supports a wide range of people – from those aged 11 and over who are using abusive behaviour in the home or in their close relationships, to anyone aged 16 and above who wants to change stalking behaviour in any context. Evaluations from the previous funding period clearly demonstrated the value of this integrated model, and I’m delighted that my office has secured further funding from the Home Office’s Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Fund to continue this important work into 2025/26.
• A wide range of tailored interventions are delivered through the hub, including Healthy Relationships, Challenging Unhealthy Relationship Beliefs and Behaviours (CURBB), Compulsive, Obsessive Behaviour Intervention (COBI) for stalking and harassment, and Young People Using Violence and Abuse (YUVA).
• One key learning from the hub’s implementation was the unmet need for bespoke support for women who are experiencing abuse and using retaliatory violence. In response, we developed a pioneering one-to-one intervention, designed and delivered by the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership (SDAP). This trauma-informed, expert-led work ensures that women in this complex situation receive the support they need in a safe and empowering way.
• SDAP also continues to play a key role in providing survivor-focused support throughout the hub’s work. To strengthen our response to stalking, I’ve also funded two stalking advocates to undertake the accredited Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) training – further building capacity to support victims and hold perpetrators to account.
  
  
• Targeted Interventions in the Night-Time Economy: Through funding from the Home Office’s Serious Violence Duty Fund, I’ve supported an innovative early intervention programme delivered by Circles South East. This initiative focuses on individuals at risk of engaging in sexually harmful behaviour within Surrey’s night-time economy.
• As part of the project, specialist training has been provided to officers and staff within Surrey Police to help them recognise the early warning signs of perpetration and take proactive steps to intervene. We’ve also established clear referral pathways into Circles SE, where those identified as high risk can access a personalised intervention programme designed to challenge and change harmful behaviours before they escalate.
  
  
• Championing Victims’ Voices on the National Stage: In 2024/25, I was proud to be appointed as the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ national lead for victims. This role has given me the opportunity to influence national policy, working collaboratively with partners across the country to ensure the voices of victims are not only heard, but placed at the heart of decision-making.
• In January 2025, I brought together key stakeholders from across Surrey for a roundtable focused on tackling domestic abuse and stalking. Our aim was to better understand how we can reduce harm and shift the behaviours of perpetrators through meaningful, collective action.
• Following those discussions, I shared my findings directly with the Minister for Safeguarding and the Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, helping to shape the national VAWG strategy and to guide future decisions around funding and support.

Explore further data concerning Surrey Police progress against this priority.

Previous

Next