Contents

Context

Violence Against Women and Girls has always been a concern, but in recent years and due to greater awareness and prominence of these targeted crimes, a name has been put to this abuse and this has enabled further progress to take place

For example, an increase in the publication of data around VAWG by the authorities and the increase in VAWG-dedicated organisations bringing these issues to the forefront. The Home Office created the VAWG Strategy and Enough Campaign to address this increasing concern.

Sarah Everard was killed on 4 March 2021 in London, by a male police officer. Sabina Nessa was killed on 17 September 2021 in Greenwich, by a male garage worker. Both murders took place in neighbouring boroughs and by men, targeted at women.

These two particularly prominent and local murders (or ‘femicides,’ i.e., the murder of a woman or girl on account of her gender) have increased the awareness of VAWG and impacted feelings of safety for women and girls. 

MOPAC Public Attitude Survey

MOPAC’s latest public attitudes survey showed that females are: 

  • Less likely to feel safe walking alone after dark, at 67% 
  • 1 in 5 women report unwanted sexual attention in the last year 
  • 27% of those felt harassed, threatened, or fearful and 10% felt disgust or shame. 
  • Of those who experienced harassment, 63% changed their behaviour in some way as a result, such as taking different routes or changing how they dressed.

A January 2025 Survey across Bexley revealed similar feelings; respondents were asked to rate how safe they felt from VAWG in Bexley (with 1 being extremely concerned and 10 being not concerned). The average response was 5.51. This was a slight reduction from our 2024 survey, which resulted in a 5.89 average safety score.

In the year of 2024, the total number of VAWG offences reported in Bexley, was 2,912. The data was collected from the Metropolitan Police System Connect. Below is a breakdown of the reports for 2024:

  • Domestic Abuse Offences – 1,553
    • Domestic Abuse Violence with Injury – 348
    • Domestic Abuse Violence without Injury – 870
    • Criminal Damage – 92
    • Honor Based Abuse – 3
    • Forced Marriage – 1
    • Other DA related offences - 239
       
  • Sexual Offences – 281
    • Other Sexual Offences – 190
    • Rape – 91
       
  • Violence Against the Person – 761 (this includes anything from common assault to grievous bodily harm)
    • Violence without Injury – 423
    • Violence with Injury – 338
       
  • Public Order offences - 317
    • Public Fear Alarm of Distress – 246
    • Race or Religious Aggravation Public Fear - 63
    • Other offences – 8

According to Met Police Connect Data, in Bexley, of the total 2,912 VAWG offences in 2024, 167 (5.7%) resulted in positive Police outcomes and 664 (22.8%) are still awaiting an outcome. According to Crime outcomes in England and Wales 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK, nationally, between June 2023 and June 2024, nearly 1.9 million violent or sexual offences across England and Wales were closed without a suspect being charged or identified. Notably, in 60% of rape investigations during this period, victims withdrew their support for the case—highlighting a widespread pattern of disengagement with the criminal justice process and broader challenges in tackling VAWG offences, including victim trust, trauma-informed support, and evidential thresholds. As of now, 664 VAWG offences in Bexley (22.8%) remain under investigation and are awaiting an outcome, which may yet influence the final picture for 2024. However, the current data underscores an urgent need for system-wide improvements in victim engagement, support services, and investigative processes to improve justice outcomes both locally and nationally.

In Quarter 2 of 2024 to 2025 (July-September), the MOPAC Public Voice Pack saw that 43% of Londoners believed the police do a good job in their local area – this represents the lowest ever quarterly result for public confidence in the Met. Bexley respondents rated how well the MPS did a good job in the local area higher than in neighbouring boroughs, at 55% compared with Greenwich 46%, Bromley 50% and Barking and Dagenham 48%. Comparatively, however, Bexley is a safer borough from VAWG than other London Boroughs.

Domestic Abuse has always been the highest reported form of VAWG. Domestic Incidents continue to increase monthly, from an average of 272 incidents per month in 2018 to 638 in 2024.

As a result of this, there are pre-existing dedicated resources, personnel, and services to domestic abuse and a Domestic Abuse Strategy, which new VAWG personnel and this Strategy will operate alongside and complement.

The increase in reporting may not necessarily reflect an increase in VAWG, but possibly an increase in awareness of and confidence in reporting gender-based abuses and crimes. Nevertheless, these statistics demonstrate an increasing need for authorities to respond to VAWG.

1 MPS Crime Data Dashboard

2 Bexley Domestic Abuse Services