Plans To Tackle Violence Against Women

Home Secretary Theresa May will outline Government plans to tackle violence against women and girls today.

New rape support centres will be developed in Trafford, Hereford, Exeter and Bournemouth in an attempt to give victims better access to dedicated and specialist help, the Home Office said.

Mrs May said:

 "More needs to be done to ensure that we provide the best possible start for future generations.

"Violence against women and girls remains one of the most significant gender inequalities in the modern world, both in the UK and abroad.

"I want to see an end to all forms of violence against women and girls."

The £600,000 of funding for the new centres comes on top of last month's announcement by the Ministry of Justice that existing centres will get up to £10.5 million over three years, the Home Office confirmed.

Mrs May has said that long-term funding is "a key element of the Government's wider strategy".

Baroness Stern, who carried out a landmark review of how rape complaints were handled last year, has called for the Government to roll out support centres for rape victims across the country or risk failing in its duty to those who have been grievously harmed.

The Government must commit to supporting rape victims despite the financial pressures outlined in the spending review, she said.