Since 2018, there has been a 37% increase in violence against women in the UK. This “epidemic” is getting worse, a watchdog report said. Despite government intervention and strategies, women and girls are terrified to go out. They’re even being targeted in their own homes.
High profile crimes
Current crime watch headlines dominate the news with the shocking incident involving the death of a mother and her two daughters.
Kyle Clifford, 26, from Enfield, London, admitted to killing the three women and was sentenced last Tuesday.
At Cambridge Crown Court, the court handed him three life sentences with three whole life orders.
One of the victims was his ex-girlfriend Louise Hunt, who was only 25 years-old at the time of her death. A crossbow fatally struck her.
A tragedy that took place in a small cul-de-sac left the nation in shock and wondering how Clifford was able to commit it.
Unfortunately, crimes of a similar nature have been ubiquitous in recent years.
Sarah Everard was only 33-years-old when Wayne Couzens murdered her.
The Met Police officer admitted to the kidnap, rape, and murder of Ms. Everard on the eve of March 3, 2021.
Couzens, an active officer at the time, carried out his malicious attack after a shift at the US Embassy.
The Central Criminal Court heard he had “long planned to carry out a violent sexual assault on a yet-to-be-selected victim”.
Ms. Everard’s death and the circumstances surrounding it caused public outcry; it highlighted several critical issues.
One of the most shocking is the breach of trust by a police officer.
It wasn’t the first time the police force had been scrutinised, but it raised significant concerns on the safety of women in public.
She was doing what women and girls do daily — simply walking home.
In loving memory
A national conversation on the safety of women pointed out just how terrifying everyday can be.
Grace Milane was on her gap year in New Zealand when a fun night out turned to be her last.
In 2018, she met up with Jesse Kempson. She didn’t know that months earlier, he had assaulted another British tourist.
A lead forensic on her case said ‘considerable force would have been required, and the pressure on her neck must have lasted between four and five minutes to be enough to kill her.’
To honour her legacy, her family set up the Love Grace Handbag Appeal.
They were inspired after seeing a social media post showing how a bag of essentials benefited women in refuge.
They said on their website, “We wanted to continue this legacy by providing practical support for women in need.”
The appeal has launched in the UK, Canada, New Zeland, Singapore, and the United States.
Faith Shimongola, Senior Practitioner of Domestic Abuse Services, for BCHA said: “For a woman who has made the brave decision to leave her home and arrived with the bare minimum in refuge, the gift of the handbag with essential items reaffirms that there is a community to help and support this journey.
“On behalf of the survivors in our care BCHA extend a heartfelt thank you to the amazing work of volunteers and our valued BCP Partners in bringing this project to life.”
Call to action
Women aren’t just having to assess the risks of walking alone outside but also the risk of abuse at home.
The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 2.3 million people aged 16 years and over (1.6 million women and 712,000 men) experienced domestic abuse in year ending March 2024.
This is one of the many factors which saw thousands of women march for their rights earlier this year.
A range of different groups, including supporters and those affected by violence from men, marched in a series of national demonstrations.
Sophie Whithers, one of the organisers for a march in the South of the UK, said she “really resonated with the whole message of the women’s march and sexism and misogyny effects everybody.”
The march followed global events too, such as the election of President Donald Trump in the US.
Despite a trail of controversy behind him, he made a historic comeback during his campaign, beating former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Ahead of his first run in the 2016 presidential election, a leaked video of Trump showed him bragging about sexually assaulting a woman back in 2005.
That same year, reports of multiple women came forward accusing him of sexual misconduct. He refuted and called them “horrible, horrible liars.”
Protesters at the march, aim to use the “momentum from the march” to create change through policy and motions.
Catalyst for change
As the outcry around the case of Sarah Everard and the Hunt family grows, society needs a precedent for protecting women.
The UK government said in a statement that it is set to pilot a target police force specialising in domestic abuse.
The team will advise on risk assessments and work with officers on the ground to ensure they respond quickly to victims and refer them to support services as soon as possible.
Janbaz Tarin, Raneem’s ex-partner, murdered Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem in Solihull, UK, in 2018.
Raneem’s Law is named in her memory.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Victims of appalling domestic abuse need to know that the police will be there for them.
“Today’s measures are the start of this new government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.”
Nour Norris, aunt and sister of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem, and lead campaigner said: “Six years ago, when I lost my niece Raneem and sister Khaola, my world fell apart.
“Their suffering and the way the system failed them is something I will never forget.
“That’s when I began my campaign, Secure Life for Raneem’s Law.
“What started as a quest for justice for my family became a mission to improve outcomes for all domestic abuse victims everywhere.”
