Keir Starmer is on a mission to reduce crime. The former Barrister has already demonstrated his commitment to lowering the crime rate; following the EDL protests last month, he has increased the number of arrests and toughened sentencing. His plans extend beyond the protests, with his next focus being the 37% increase in violence against women since 2018.
Starmer has introduced his idea of rape courts to tackle the 346% increase in adult rape cases in the crown court backlog in the past 4 years. With only 2.6% of rape cases resulting in a charge, Starmer is advocating for tougher sentencing and more robust responses to domestic violence, including having domestic violence specialists available to answer 999 calls.
During the lockdown, there was a 65% increase in domestic violence calls, as the pandemic caused significant disruptions that the country is still trying to address. While the pandemic’s aftereffects, including case backlogs, are still being felt, trends in domestic violence predate the pandemic and have consistently contributed to backlogs. These ongoing delays, coupled with the low percentage of charges, have led to speculation that domestic violence is being ‘decriminalised’.
There is a cyclical rise in violence against women every four years. The close link between football and domestic violence means that public services are on standby on match day for more than just public disturbances. During the World Cup, reported incidents of domestic violence against women increase by 26 % if England plays, 38% if England loses and 11% the day following the match, regardless of the result.
Starmer also plans to establish specialist rape units in every UK police force to support victims. These cases would be classified as ‘vulnerable’ to expedite their progress through the system. According to the National Centre for Domestic Violence, nearly 30 women attempt suicide every day, and three women take their own lives each week as a result of experiencing domestic abuse.
While Keir Starmer’s plan to tackle domestic aim to be highly beneficial and supportive for women, in a BBC radio interview in June, the Prime Minister struggled to answer a question from a member of the public who expressed concerns about transgender women having access to female-only spaces, such as toilets and bathrooms, and the potential threat women may feel. Starmer is right to acknowledge trans rights and strive for inclusivity, but the debate continues over whether there should be separate spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals. This issue requires further analysis, as to involves the safety and rights of both biological and transgender women.
