ABUSE victims will get specialist NHS help under new plans to crack down on violence against women and girls.
The plans promise better support for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence across England, with a new GP-led referral system and an end to the postcode lottery for help.
Under a scheme called Steps to Safety, victims will be fast-tracked from their GP to specialist services, with staff trained to spot abuse earlier.
Children who survive sexual abuse will also get trauma-informed care in one place under an expanded Child House model, backed by up to £50 million.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “As a service that often has first eyes on abuse victims, the NHS plays a vital role in supporting and treating victims.
“These changes will put victims first, making sure they have specialist care and reliable support when they need it most.”
The reforms form part of a wider strategy to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, which will be published on Thursday.
In another development, police have been instructed to use counter-terror style technology to target rapists and stalkers.
Ministers want to replicate the Met Police’s V100 scheme — a data analytics tool — which has doubled the likelihood of arrest.
The system helps police identify, monitor and disrupt offenders who pose the greatest threat.
It helped catch one man who attacked eight women in four days in London, raping one at knifepoint.
It comes as Labour this week launches what is claimed as the biggest blitz on violence against women and girls in British history.
