Violence against women and girls (VAWG) has been a focus of the Government for some time, more recently through the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2016 – 2020 (HM Government, 2016).
This strategy outlined its plans for national and local Government, as well as local partners and agencies involved in supporting those who experience abuse. This policy approach is thus reflected in agencies such as the MoJ, HMPPS and CPS (MoJ, 2020; CPS, 2017). These key agencies, along with statutory health and social care agencies, are charged with challenging all forms of gender-based violence at every opportunity. With reference to Wales, the Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 places a duty upon Local Authorities and Health Boards to form annual action plans and strategies for their respective areas in relation to combatting violence against women, gender-based violence and the protection of children (see: Welsh Government, 2020).
