A senior Labour shadow minister today said the court system is "broken" and is "letting women down" as she sets out the party's vision to half violence against women and girls should they win the general election.
Funding, reassurance and reform were just some of the concerns on the minds of the leaders of three charities who gathered in Hemlington in Middlesbrough today (June 21) and put forward their views to Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Ms Cooper heard from leaders of HALO, A Way Out and Arch - three sexual violence charities based in Teesside and part of the Cleveland Women's Network.
The organisations offer services including therapy, counselling and support to anyone affected by sexual assault and domestic violence throughout their journey.
"We just want reassurance", said Nicky Harkin, Chief Executive of Arch who was keen to ask the shadow minister about consistent future funding.
Whilst she says police operations including Operation Soteria which has changed the way a rape is investigated, there is still a way to go.
"There is a lot of improvements to be made in other areas."
Susan Willoughby attended on behalf of A Way Out, based in Stockton. She told the Echo that demand for the charity's services has increased and they now have a waiting list.
The group then sat down for half an hour and discussed some of the biggest issues that would help dramatically reduce violence in women and girls.
Under Labour's plans, new measures would include placing domestic violence specialists in control rooms, violence against women training for new police officers and enhanced support for victims.
When pressed by the Echo on where funding would come from to fund the measures, Ms Cooper emphasised savings could be made by changing the current police and court system and "making savings".
She said: "Money is going to be tight for some time and we are all being honest about that. We know that’s about difficult choices, but we need to get the economy growing."
She added that the party have identified areas where additional funding can be found but did not specify - adding the system must be changed to impact people's lives.
She said: "Women go to court and they are told at the last minute their case is adjourned - it is a broken system it is not fair and it is letting women down.
"I think there has been two little action for far too long - I don’t think the police, the criminal justice system or the government have taken violence against women and girls seriously.
Recommended:
"All of them thought after the awful murder of Sarah Everard that there would be change and yet we have still not got higher vetting standards in policing.
"This has to change. Policing has to change, the criminal justice system has to change, and I’m determined to do that
"It will be the first time we as a labour government have made it a mission to have violence against women and girls over the next 10 years - but people want to see action not just words."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here