Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner has called on the Government to continue funding for vital schemes that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), which are set to end early next year.

Government grants have enabled the delivery of local projects like specialist domestic abuse training, support and referral programmes, and investment alongside crucial Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) and Independent Domestic Abuse Advisor (IDVA) roles.

This funding is now at risk after the previous Government did not announce any continuation of the funding.

This has left commissioners and providers unable to plan for the future, meaning that the majority of these projects are currently set to come to an end in March 2025.

Police commissioner Clive Grunshaw has written to the Ministry of Justice calling on the Government to take the opportunity of the upcoming funding settlement to continue this funding for at least another year, allowing time for a longer-term funding strategy that can allow important projects that protect vulnerable people to carry on delivering, whilst providing police and crime commissioners the flexibility to ensure funding goes to where it is needed most.

He has called for clarity as soon as possible.

Mr Grunshaw said: "I'm determined to prevent violence against women and girls, a priority that requires a zero-tolerance approach, ensuring perpetrators have nowhere to hide.

"However the cliff edge of funding on the horizon next March, which we have already had to plan around, will, as it stands, severely impact the services that are being provided to support victims and vulnerable people.

"That's why I've written to the Government to call for continued funding to ensure victims of these heinous crimes can reach safety and are able to access specialist support.

“As the public’s voice in policing, I will continue to ensure that every measure taken is used to deliver the best possible policing service for the people of Lancashire.”