20th January 2016

Hidden rise in violent crime driven by growth in violence against women

Shocking new research out from Silvia Walby from Lancaster University reveals a rise in violent crime against women, whilst violent crime against men falls. For years we've been told that these kinds of crimes were all going down - yet in reality, the methodology used by the National Crime Survey of England and Wales hid the rise in violent crime against women. CEO of the Women's Resource Centre, Vivienne Hayes outlines her explanation behind the figures, and urges the government to stop its sexist policy making - including failing to fund women's support services:
“while austerity had played a part in the rise in violence against women, some of it was also the result of a troubling resurgence of sexism.
Research from a range of sources strongly suggests that over the last few years our societal view of women, from violent pornography, violent computer games, street harassment and everyday sexism, to the lack of women in positions of leadership and the attempt to remove women’s contribution to political progress in the A level curriculum, is creating a view of women which nurtures and normalises our violation.
Only when we take a bird’s eye view of all of these issues and develop a joined up strategy to tackle them head on, will we see a reduction in violent crime against women.”

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