Women’s Safety Unit increasing support for victims

The West Yorkshire Women’s Safety Unit is significantly driving down investigation times for victims of rape.

The pioneering partnership between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Violence Reduction Partnership and Police has led to an average reduction of more than 40%.

It comes as the unit receives financial backing to continue its crucial work for another year, spearheading new ways to tackle violence against women and girls across the region.

Since its launch in March 2024, the unit, which is a national first, has:

• Improved rape and serious sexual offence outcomes, above the national average for the number of people charged.
• Led a victim engagement programme to hear the voices of underrepresented groups.
• Explored new ways to improve investigations and outcomes in stalking and harassment cases, including trialling specialist software.
• Commissioned West Yorkshire wide education sessions focused on the safety of women and girls, including creative workshops to promote positive behaviours and challenge harmful attitudes.
• Ensured opportunities for the use of forensic marking in domestic abuse cases are optimised.
• Developed Independent Advisory Groups and Scrutiny Panels, which focus on engagement with partners and communities.
• Supported West Yorkshire Police to increase the use and awareness of protective orders and disclosure schemes, to keep victims and survivors safe.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“These reductions in rape investigation times are yet another important step forward in the collaborative work of the Women’s Safety Unit.

“Whilst we do everything we can to prevent these awful crimes from ever occurring, victims must also have absolute confidence that the system is supporting them.

“In West Yorkshire we laser focused on achieving this and already leading the way nationally in charging perpetrators.”

Temporary Superintendent James Kitchen is West Yorkshire Police’s Strategic Lead for Violence against Women and Girls and added:

“Ensuring the safety of women and girls is a responsibility that cannot be met in isolation; it requires a coordinated and collective partnership and a whole of society approach.  

“The continued investment of the unit represents a significant commitment to driving long‑term and meaningful change and improving our services for women and girls across our communities.   

“West Yorkshire Police remain committed to creating an environment for women and girls, where they not only feel safe but are safe, free from harm, fear and harassment. We will achieve this by continuing to establish work in key areas including early intervention and education to reduce reoffending and change harmful attitudes and behaviours, alongside bringing those responsible for this offending to justice.”