@andy.burnham: If we're serious about ending violence against women and girls, we have to change the culture that allows it to happen in the first place. I learned that long before I became Prime Minister. In Greater Manchester, tackling violence against women and girls was a personal priority for me. We worked hard to change the culture in our public spaces and within policing, because if women don't feel believed, respected and protected, the system isn't working as it should. We need to challenge misogyny, harassment and abuse wherever we find it, online, in our schools, on our streets and across society. We are working towards that change, at the same time as strengthening protection for victims and pursuing perpetrators. That's why all police forces in England and Wales will have specialist rape and sexual offences teams in place by December 2027. I looked at the original timetable and thought: that's too slow. Women and girls should not have to wait years for action. We're also investing more than £13 million in specialist Protection Order Teams to help police make better use of the powers available to protect women from stalking, domestic abuse and other forms of abuse, and to make sure those protections are properly enforced. I am not prepared to accept the level of violence and abuse faced by women and girls in this country. Changing the culture, backing victims and relentlessly pursuing perpetrators all have to go hand in hand.

Andy Burnham

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Region: GB

Saturday 29 August 2026 11:12:08 GMT