Violence against Women and Girls Strategy

Debate between Adnan Hussain and Jess Phillips

Monday 15th December 2025 Commons Chamber

[Jess Phillips]

Absolutely. We cannot just end the presumption of contact on its own because perpetrators will often just find a new tactic. We have to ensure that our family courts are fit for purpose and will keep the children, and the non-abusive parents, in our country safe.

[Mr Adnan Hussain (Blackburn) (Ind)]

Just last night, a constituent of mine wrote to me as a deeply worried father about violence against women and girls. He cites recent rape statistics and fears that for families such as his with daughters, the risks feel intolerably high and too many offences still go unreported. Will the Minister reassure my constituent that her strategy in tackling violence against women and girls will improve reporting and charge rates, increase deterrence through more severe sentencing and ensure that violence against women and girls, particularly in high prevalence regions, are genuinely considered further?

[Jess Phillips]

I only wish there was a high prevalence area in the country that I could target with all the interventions, but this is something that exists in every single part of the country. There is no one place that is worse for it than others, but I absolutely guarantee that on Thursday the hon. Member will see that the violence against women and girls strategy seeks to improve the situation for his concerned constituent.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Adnan Hussain and Jess Phillips

Monday 21st October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Jess Phillips]

I could not agree more that we need to strengthen this area, with women especially feeling less confidence over the last few years. We will announce in due course—I promise the hon. Lady that we are working on this at pace—how we are going to ensure that police conduct and vetting systems are fit for purpose, to bring back some of the trust that has been lost.

[Mr Adnan Hussain (Blackburn) (Ind)]

Although I welcome the Home Secretary’s response on antisocial behaviour involving e-scooters and bikes, I wish to reiterate the concerns of my residents in Blackburn. Will she consider not only additional powers for the police but civil powers for local authorities to combat hotspot areas before somebody is seriously hurt?

[Jess Phillips]

As the Home Secretary outlined on neighbourhood policing, we will bring in respect orders to ensure that antisocial behaviour in particular areas is targeted in a way that it simply has not been in recent years.