Victims of domestic and sexual violence could be denied vital support because of funding cuts and the hike in employers’ national insurance contributions, charities have warned.
The leaders of five leading victims’ and women’s charities wrote to the Prime Minister warning the moves will put his mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) ‘in jeopardy’.
In the joint letter, Rape Crisis England and Wales, Victim Support, Welsh Women’s Aid, Imkaan and Women’s Aid Federation of England, said support for survivors is needed ‘now more than ever’.
The open letter states: ‘The criminal justice system is in chaos. Faith in the police is at rock bottom and court delays have reached record levels. VAWG-related offences now account for twenty per cent of all police recorded crime.
‘Our vital support services are needed now more than ever, so by cutting funding and raising National Insurance, this government is putting their future in danger and potentially denying a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence. If these moves go ahead, we believe your mission to halve VAWG is in jeopardy.’
The open letter states that, according to the Rape Crisis England and Wales survey report, a third of Rape Crisis centres are expecting to issue redundancy notices before the end of the financial year, with 30% of directors concerned they will have to close their centre down.
Both the funding cut and the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions will take effect from April next year.
While the increase to employer national insurance contributions alone will cost the organisations ‘many millions of pounds’, the charities warn ‘the cost to victims of crime will be significantly greater’.
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‘The Government has repeatedly said it is protecting services for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, but as providers of these services, this is not the reality,’ it goes on.
‘National insurance increases mean that services face cuts in real-terms.’
The letter adds: ‘We, and others across the sector, will have no choice but to meet these costs through running down reserves, making redundancies, closing waiting lists, and cutting services.
‘We will be forced to cut services and victims will suffer.’
The charities have asked for an uplift in their funding as a result, as well as a meeting with Sir Keir Starmer to discuss these issues and continued support for victims.
Chief executive of Victim Support Katie Kempen said: ‘Closing our doors to vulnerable victims of crime is the last thing we want to do. But we could be left with no choice.
‘The Government must immediately reverse planned cuts and instead increase the victims’ services grant to cover national insurance rises.
‘If they don’t, the stark reality is that people who have experienced the shock and trauma of crime, including domestic abuse and sexual violence survivors, will have to go without vital support.’
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Throughout the year we will be bringing you stories that shine a light on the sheer scale of the epidemic.
With the help of our partners at Women's Aid, This Is Not Right aims to engage and empower our readers on the issue of violence against women.
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Head of external affairs at Women’s Aid Federation of England Isabelle Younane said: ‘Domestic abuse is a national emergency, and yet our network of lifesaving services across the country is at risk of dismantling due to decades of underfunding and rising costs.
‘Unless all women and children are able to access the specialist support they need to flee abuse and rebuild their lives, the Government risks undermining its welcome pledge to halve violence against women and girls in the next 10 years.
‘We urge the Prime Minister to put these vital services on a secure financial footing and deliver on his manifesto commitment to the British people.’
A Government spokesperson said: ‘This Government inherited a criminal justice system under immense pressure and a black hole in the nation’s finances.
‘Our mission to halve violence against women and girls remains a top priority and we are committed to ensuring we can deliver the justice victims deserve, through our courts and across the system.
‘By protecting support for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse, we are ensuring help is available to survivors of these awful crimes as they seek to rebuild their lives.’
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