Government publishes Freedom from Violence and Abuse Strategy
The government has published its new Freedom from Violence and Abuse Strategy, setting out a ten-year, cross-government approach to tackling violence against women and girls and child sexual abuse. The strategy outlines new commitments on prevention, policing, victim support and the responsible use of technology, with clear implications for industry and public services.
Overview of the Freedom from Violence and Abuse Strategy
On Thursday 18 December, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Jess Phillips announced the publication of the government’s Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy in a ministerial statement.
The strategy, informed by the lived experiences of survivors and victims, is designed to implement a ‘whole of society’ approach to tackle VAWG and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), working with government, public services and the community to achieve lasting and meaningful change over a 10-year period.
The strategy now provides a clear definition for VAWG, which includes ‘online and technology-facilitated abuse, including ‘cyberflashing’ and non-consensual intimate image abuse.’ It also addresses challenges related to behavioural barriers stemming from harmful attitudes, systemic issues such as inconsistent police responses, and emerging threats including technology-facilitated abuse and digital risks. It examines how these conditions can contribute to enabling violence and abuse.
The strategy is prioritising the protection of children through a dedicated programme to prevent and tackle child sexual abuse. This is supported by over £60 million in funding and wider reforms to social care and child protection. This work remains essential, as children represent more than 40% of all sexual offence victims. Early intervention plays a key role in preventing long-term harm and reducing future incidents of violence against women and girls.
The strategy is underpinned by three principal objectives: the prevention of abuse and early intervention to address its root causes; the unwavering pursuit of perpetrators; and the provision of comprehensive support to all individuals affected by violence and abuse.
Prevention and early intervention
The strategy focuses on preventing violence against women and girls through education, challenging harmful attitudes, and creating safe, supportive environments for young people to thrive.
The strategy makes a clear emphasis on the impact of misogynistic content and violent pornography online are shaping harmful attitudes and behaviours, with children exposed as early as age nine and acts like strangulation becoming mainstream in sexual encounters.
To address these risks, the government will ban strangulation and suffocation in pornography.
Furthermore, the government will now ban nudification apps and other tools that create non-consensual intimate images to protect women, girls, and children from exploitation and online abuse. Under the Online Safety Act 2023, platforms must implement strict age checks and adopt Ofcom’s guidance to prevent access to harmful content, while efforts continue to stop children from creating or sharing nude images.
To advance this mission, the government has pledged to collaborate with technology companies and industry.
Relentless pursuit of perpetrators
The strategy makes it clear that VAWG must be a core policing priority with mandatory training for all officers, and public protection properly resourced. This shift will make VAWG central to policing standards, reinforced by reforms in the upcoming Policing White Paper.
Current policing for VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) does not match the complexity of these crimes, despite proven methods from counterterrorism and organised crime. The strategy aims to be technology-driven, including the use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) vans to identify high-harm offenders across seven police forces.
Rapid Video Response (RVR) will allow victims contact officers quickly by secure video call, improving investigation speed and arrest rates. Other steps include expanding electronic monitoring and testing proximity monitoring for better risk management. Covert officers and updated legislation will further strengthen efforts to identify, monitor, and stop offenders, prioritising victim protection.
Support
The strategy emphasises the need to support victims of VAWG and how essential this is to break the cycle of abuse and ensuring justice, yet services are currently fragmented, underfunded and often fail to meet the diverse needs of victims and survivors.
The government has committed to create an accessible, coordinated, and compassionate system that provides tailored, holistic support through specialist services and empowers frontline professionals to connect victims with the help they need. This will be supported by the largest-ever investment of £550 million in victim services over the next three years.
The strategy also pledges to invest up to £50 million to expand the internationally recognised Child House approach across NHS regions in England, providing child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation with specialist, trauma-informed, multi-agency care in a single safe space for them and their families.
A whole-of-society approach
The strategy emphasises the need for a ‘whole of society’ approach. It is not possible to rely solely on the criminal justice system to end violence VAWG and CSA, it requires commitment from individuals and every part of society. The government is committed to supporting frontline professionals across healthcare, education, transport, and the financial sector to identify abuse early, support victims, and challenge perpetrators to prevent harm and create safer environments.
This Strategy begins a ten-year mission to halve violence against women and girls. Guided by evidence and partnerships, the government pledges harness technology to adapt, innovate, and act to ensure every woman and girl can live free from abuse.
Next steps for techUK and our VAWG and RASSO Tech Working Group
The newly published strategy will be a central focus for our techUK VAWG and RASSO Tech Working Group. The member-led group brings together industry, policing, policymakers and experts to collaborate on how technology can tackle VAWG and RASSO, connecting techUK members with partners across the justice and police sectors.
Over the coming months, the group will explore and identify opportunities to apply technology and digital innovation to support its implementation. Drawing on the expertise of survivors, suppliers, and stakeholders, we remain committed to advancing meaningful progress in preventing and detecting VAWG and RASSO.
Responding to the publication of the VAWG Strategy 2025;
The techUK VAWG and RASSO Working Group welcome the publishing of the VAWG Strategy and very much look forward to looking at where we can continue to support key priorities that align with the strategy. We have just started a new tenure of the Working Group and are keen to build on the momentum we have created over the last two years. As a group of representatives of suppliers, survivors, and academics all passionate and focussed on how we can use tech to prevent and detect VAWG and RASSO offences, we hope this new strategy launches a new period of engaged focus, innovation, and change.
Naomi Bolton
Chair of techUK’s VAWG and RASSO Working Group
To find out more about the work we are doing to tackle VAWG and RASSO, visit our hub page.
Dave Evans
Head of Programme - Justice and Emergency Services and Economic Crime Lead, techUK
Dave Evans
Head of Programme - Justice and Emergency Services and Economic Crime Lead, techUK
Dave is a former senior police officer with the City of London Police, bringing extensive experience as a Detective and senior leader across frontline operations and multi-agency partnerships at regional and national levels.
He has led and supported responses to major national incidents, including mass casualty events, counter-terrorism operations and large-scale public disorder, working closely with partners across the criminal justice sector.
Alongside his public service, Dave has also held leadership roles in the private sector, managing projects focused on intellectual property and licensing. His combined experience across both sectors gives him a deep understanding of how collaboration between service providers and end users can strengthen resilience and trust.
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.
Prior to joining techUK, Cinzia worked in the third and public sectors, managing projects related to international trade and social inclusion.
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Fran Richiusa
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Fran serves as the Programme Team Assistant within techUK’s Public Sector Market Programmes, where she is responsible for delivering comprehensive team support, managing administrative functions, and fostering strong relationships with members.
Prior to joining techUK in May 2025, Fran built a meaningful career in the charitable and local government sectors. She worked extensively with both victims and perpetrators of crime, and notably led the coordination of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Surrey—an initiative aimed at identifying lessons and preventing future incidents of domestic abuse.
Outside of work, Fran is an avid traveller and a proud cat mum who enjoys unwinding with her feline companions.
Justice and Emergency Services Programme activities
The techUK Justice and Emergency Services Programme represents tech firms operating in the public safety, criminal justice, and blue light markets. We create strong relationships between members and public sector customers, encouraging industry engagement, and unlocking innovation. Visit the programme page here.
Voting is now open for the techUK Justice and Emergency Services Management Committee (JESMC)
Voting is now open for the techUK Justice and Emergency Services Management Committee. This is an opportunity to help shape the future direction of the programme and strengthen industry engagement across justice and emergency services.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Head of Programme - Justice and Emergency Services and Economic Crime Lead, techUK
Dave Evans
Head of Programme - Justice and Emergency Services and Economic Crime Lead, techUK
Dave is a former senior police officer with the City of London Police, bringing extensive experience as a Detective and senior leader across frontline operations and multi-agency partnerships at regional and national levels.
He has led and supported responses to major national incidents, including mass casualty events, counter-terrorism operations and large-scale public disorder, working closely with partners across the criminal justice sector.
Alongside his public service, Dave has also held leadership roles in the private sector, managing projects focused on intellectual property and licensing. His combined experience across both sectors gives him a deep understanding of how collaboration between service providers and end users can strengthen resilience and trust.
Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.
The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.
Prior to joining techUK, Cinzia worked in the third and public sectors, managing projects related to international trade and social inclusion.
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Fran Richiusa
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Fran serves as the Programme Team Assistant within techUK’s Public Sector Market Programmes, where she is responsible for delivering comprehensive team support, managing administrative functions, and fostering strong relationships with members.
Prior to joining techUK in May 2025, Fran built a meaningful career in the charitable and local government sectors. She worked extensively with both victims and perpetrators of crime, and notably led the coordination of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Surrey—an initiative aimed at identifying lessons and preventing future incidents of domestic abuse.
Outside of work, Fran is an avid traveller and a proud cat mum who enjoys unwinding with her feline companions.
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