Police failing survivors of violence against women with communication needs, report shows

Leading women’s rights organisations have launched a report revealing how public bodies, particularly the police, are failing to comply with their Equality Act obligations to eliminate discrimination, harassment, and victimisation when interacting with survivors of violence against women who face communication barriers – negatively impacting their access to justice.

The report found that victims and survivors with communication needs were more likely to be afraid to contact the police for fear of discrimination and violence based on their previous experiences and interactions.

Communication barriers include those faced by women who are blind or visually impaired, speakers of languages other than English, Deaf or hard of hearing, or have communication impairments, learning difficulties, or limited access to literacy.

Responses to a call for evidence found:

• More than half of the survivor respondents had experienced police failures to communicate at an appropriate level or make reasonable adjustments
• Nearly half were not informed about the process or their rights after contacting the police to report abuse or violence
• 44% had prior experience of discrimination, including racism, ableism and xenophobia, from the police

Isabel Ros López, Membership Manager at the End Violence Against Women Coalition and Member of the VAWG Sector Communication Barriers Working Group, said: ‘This latest evidence echoes what specialist ‘by and for’ specialist organisations have long raised the alarm about. The police and public bodies need to do much more to fulfil their duties under the Equality Act 2010.

‘Specialist services led by and for Black, minoritised, migrant, Deaf or disabled women are best placed to provide the tailored support women need. However, these services are chronically underfunded and facing increasing demand as well as soaring running costs during the cost of living crisis.

‘We call on the police and all public bodies to listen to us, implement our recommendations and ensure access to safety, adequate services and justice for all women.’

In order to improve access to support and justice for victims and survivors with communication needs, the report made recommendations for police forces, public bodies and government:

• The Victims and Prisoners Bill should include a legal duty to ensure victims and survivors’ rights to communication support, similar to those accused of a crime
• The police and other criminal justice agencies should ensure all resources are produced in accessible formats and available in other community languages
• Police training should include more in-depth equalities work, addressing discrimination, myths and stereotypes about sex, race and ethnicity, social class, disability and other protected characteristics concerning victims and survivors
• The government should commit to creating a sustainable funding model for the provision of specialist user-led Deaf and disabled organisations and ‘by and for’ services which are independent, trauma-informed and offer advocacy and ‘wraparound’ support for all victims/survivors of VAWG
• Police and Crime Commissioners should proactively engage and work with specialist domestic abuse and sexual violence services and conduct local needs assessments to ensure that specialist ‘by and for’ services are appropriately resourced

Image: Scott Rodgerson