The LGA has said that the Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy must be ‘backed up with resources’ to support councils in taking action.

The policy paper, titled ‘Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’, was published yesterday and provides an outline of the Government’s aims to halve VAWG within a decade.

Key elements of the strategy are a focus on tackling child sexual abuse, boosting prevention and early intervention methods, the ‘relentless pursuit of perpetrators’, and delivering support for victims and survivors.

The two-part strategy and action plan documents emphasise the importance of adopting a ‘whole of society approach’ to combatting VAWG, which will involve increased training for frontline staff in every sector to help them determine early signs of abuse and identify those at risk.

The documents point to the importance of councils’ role in delivering preventative services and carrying out the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Duty, which was backed by a £19m uplift earlier this week.

Further commitments set out in the document are related to proposed developments of the healthcare system to ensure it is better equipped to support those affected by VAWG.

It also pledges to increase public awareness of VAWG through campaigns and research, as well as clamping down on public and workplace harassment, and updating national design, planning, and transport guidance to ‘ensure that safety is built into the fabric of our communities’.

Cllr Matt Boughton, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities committee said it is ‘positive to see the publication of this strategy’ and emphasised that ‘tackling violence against women and girls remains a priority for local government'.

However, Cllr Boughton highlighted that ‘national ambition must be matched by a clear recognition of local leadership and responsibilities, and must be backed up with the resources to deliver these services fully’.

He added: ‘Councils are ready to support a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, as well as the commitment to improve support for victims and survivors, including through stronger multi-agency working and safeguarding partnerships.

‘This will require the full power of our public services, which includes not only policing and criminal justice, but also education, public health, housing, community safety and local services all working in step. Local government is central to achieving this and is an invaluable source of information and support.

‘Government needs to recognise that local government is a valued partner in preventing abuse and supporting victims and survivors, a partner that works with other organisations every day to keep communities safe.’