Government launches new VAWG strategy

Source: Home Office, Ministry of Justice, 18 December 2025

All police forces will introduce specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams to hunt down perpetrators, under sweeping reforms announced by the Home Secretary.

As part of the government’s violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy due to be launched this week, the full power of the state will be deployed in the largest crackdown on violence perpetrated against women and girls in British history.

This will see specialist investigators apprehend, investigate and lock up rapists and sex offenders across the country.

Devastatingly, on average, every day, 200 rapes are recorded by the police – and more go unreported.

Offenders of these vile crimes are among the most prolific and dangerous criminals in our society. Yet the tools and tactics used by law enforcement to pursue them are outdated, too often leaving men and boys to wreak havoc without any consequence.

The dedicated rape and sexual offence specialist investigators, deployed in every police force in England and Wales, will replace an outdated system, where officers often did not have the specialist knowledge to investigate rapists and sex offenders, leaving predators to walk the streets.

The Home Secretary has instructed all police forces to bring in these dedicated specialist teams to better support victims and relentlessly pursue perpetrators.