A damning new report has concluded that government efforts have failed to improve outcomes for victims of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

According to the National Audit Office (NAO), the Home Office was unable to say what effect its 2021 VAWG strategy and 2022 Domestic Abuse Plan have had in reducing violence and helping victims.

The spending watchdog also found that despite more than £4.2m spent on research, the Government has a limited understanding of what works in preventing VAWG.

It reported little progress developing measures to prevent violence and deliver long-term cultural and societal change, with most prevention activities focused on reducing reoffending.

The NAO also said the Home Office had struggled to get other departments on board and criticised its limited oversight of the resources that had been devoted to tackling VAWG across government.

NAO boss Gareth Davies said: ‘The lack of an effective, cross-government approach and a limited understanding of what works to help reduce these crimes means the Home Office cannot be confident that government is doing the best it can to keep women and girls safe.’

The chair of the Local Government Association’s safer and stronger communities board, Heather Kidd, said funding challenges were impacting councils’ ability to provide the essential services ‘that make women and girls feel safe, empowered, and confident about their futures’.

Labour has pledged to halve VAWG within the next decade, with a new strategy set to be published this spring.