Strategic action plan to address violence against women and to update the Welsh Assembly Government’s domestic abuse strategy

The Welsh Assembly Government published the All Wales Domestic Abuse Strategy in 2005. The strategy acknowledges that women and children suffer disproportionate levels of domestic abuse and that this must be challenged at every opportunity. Since the original strategy was published a great deal has been achieved. We have nearly doubled the funding in our domestic abuse budget from £1.4m in 2004 to £3.7m per year in 2009.

However, despite the progress made under the original strategy it is clear from the evidence now available that much more needs to be done. In 2007/08, domestic violence accounted for 16 per cent of all reported violence incidents as measured by the British Crime Survey, BCS. As a Government, we want our citizens, especially women and children, to feel safe in their homes and in society.

Over the past 12 months we have therefore reviewed our original strategy and consulted with a range of partners over the development a new strategic action plan which will continue to tackle domestic abuse and make progress on the wider violence against women agenda over the next few years.