The Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk has said more needs to be done to tackle violence against women and girls. 

This follows deputy chief executive of the College of Policing, Maggie Blyth declaring violence against women and girls a “national emergency” with nearly 3,000 crimes recorded every day.

More than one million violent crimes against women and girls were recorded by police in 2022/23, according to a report commissioned by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing.

The National Policing Statement for Violence Against Women and Girls found that such crimes accounted for just under 20% of all police-recorded crime excluding fraud in England and Wales between April 2022 and March 2023.

The report estimated that at least one in every 12 women will be a victim per year – equating to two million women – with the exact number expected to be much higher because of crimes that go unreported.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk Tim Passmore said: “We have to do more to help the victims of these awful crimes.

“The report highlights this ongoing problem with this despicable kind of crime which should never be tolerated in any circumstances.”

He added: “We have put a huge amount of resources into Suffolk Constabulary to support investigations into domestic abuse and violence against women and girls and of course coercive control and that will continue as long as I am Crime Commissioner.”

This also follows a review into safeguarding after Peter Nash, 48, was jailed for life after killing his wife Jillu Nash, 43, and daughter Louise Nash, 12, at their family home in Great Waldingfield, near Sudbury, in September 2022. 

Peter NashPeter Nash (Image: Suffolk Police)

Tackling extremist misogyny, reviewing mental health services and refreshing training around domestic abuse are amongst recommendations made by the review.

In May a man from Newmarket, Olubunmi Abodunde, was jailed for killing his wife in a “brutal and deliberate” attack.

Olubunmi Abodunde was jailed for life. Olubunmi Abodunde was jailed for life. (Image: Suffolk Police)

Officers who dealt with the case are now under investigation for gross misconduct.