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Prosecuting Violent Crime

Violent crime covers a wide range of offences including:

These crimes are extremely rare, they account for only about 1% of all crime. Yet they cause significant harm, both to individual victims and their families in terms of physical injury and psychological trauma, and to society more widely in terms of fear. We are committed to prosecuting violent crimes efficiently and effectively.

Home » News Centre » Press Releases » CPS campaign warns abusers 'it's criminal'

CPS campaign warns abusers 'it's criminal'

15/03/2006

The Crown Prosecution Service has linked up with voluntary organisations working on behalf of victims facing abuse in a campaign to highlight the problem of violence against women and children and to warn offenders of the charges they face if they are prosecuted.

With the theme 'violence against women and children is a crime' a series of posters, carrying the strapline 'It's Criminal', will be displayed in community centres, housing offices, police stations, courts, doctors' surgeries and hospitals across England and Wales.

The posters deal with nine categories of crime which can affect women and children: domestic violence, rape and sexual assaults, forced marriage, honour crimes, child abuse, human trafficking, elder abuse, prostitution and female genital mutilation. They include contact details and helplines for voluntary organisations who provide advice and support to victims.

Beer mats with the same messages and contact details will be distributed to community groups, pubs and bars. The posters and beer mats are being distributed to coincide with the Home Office led Domestic Violence Month of Action.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald QC said: "Violent behaviour towards women and children, in whatever form it takes, is criminal. These crimes have a devastating effect on the victims and their families too. We take them seriously and we prosecute. We bring successful prosecutions in courts across England and Wales every day of the week, not just for physical assaults but for other abuse such as prostitution, forced marriage, human trafficking.

"Our message to victims is - don't suffer in silence. Not only will we bring offenders to court where there is evidence to do so, but we work closely with the police, courts and voluntary sector to make sure that support and special arrangements are put in place to help vulnerable and intimidated victims during the prosecution process."

Sandra Horley, OBE, chief executive of Refuge, national domestic violence charity, said: "Refuge welcomes the Crown Prosecution Service's commitment to make violence against women a number one priority. Domestic violence alone kills more 19-44 year old women than anything else - more than cancer. Refuge hopes that the CPS 'It's Criminal' campaign delivers a strong public message that violence towards women and children will not be tolerated."

Nicola Harwin CBE, Chief Executive of Women's Aid, said: "With over thirty years of working to end domestic violence, Women's Aid knows that any woman can experience abuse, regardless of age, class or background but many suffer alone and in silence. Often people do not realise that someone close to them is living with abuse - their sister, daughter, mother, friend, colleague or neighbour.

"In England and Wales two women are killed every week by their partner or ex-partner, so it is vital that we act now to stop domestic violence. At Women's Aid we know that the existence of independent high-quality support and advocacy services for victims is critical for an effective court system, which is why Women's Aid is developing national standards for independent domestic violence services so that victims and their children can access high-quality support services in every area - before, during and after any court process."

  1. Media enquiries to CPS press office on 020 7710 6091.
  2. The poster campaign includes nine posters covering offences under the following headings: domestic violence, rape and sexual assaults, forced marriage, honour crimes, child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, prostitution and female genital mutilation.
  3. The CPS has linked up with the following voluntary organisations, whose contact details appear on the posters and beer mats: Women's Aid, Refuge, Childline, Action on Elder Abuse, Eaves for Women (Poppy and Lilith Projects), Rape Crisis, Broken Rainbow, Forward (Foundation for Women's Health, Research & Development).