New National Centre for Public Protection

The government has announced funding for a National Centre for Public Protection to help combat Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). This new hub will bring together policing efforts to create a more unified, evidence-based approach to preventing and responding to these crimes.

The National Centre will provide specialised training and support for investigators and officers, improving their ability to tackle VAWG and CSA effectively. It will also lead a coordinated national effort, working with key agencies and the criminal justice system to reduce these offences.

This funding is a key part of the government’s goal to tackle VAWG and address it as a national emergency under the Safer Streets Mission.

Expected improvements

The National Centre for Public Protection will be based in Ryton and will bring together around 100 officers and staff to focus on tackling VAWG and CSA across England and Wales. It will work closely with the Home Office to set policing standards and ensure officers have the necessary skills to support victims of VAWG and CSA.

Launching in April 2025, the centre will focus on:

• Providing high-quality training for police officers to improve investigative and operational standards across all 43 forces.
• Partnering with the National Crime Agency (NCA) to help forces respond effectively to online CSA.
• Using intelligence-led tactics to combat these crimes.
• Strengthening collaboration with academic researchers to ensure policing strategies are informed by the latest evidence.

This initiative aims to give victims more confidence to come forward and report crimes to the police. We understand how crucial it is for police forces to build trust with victims as they need to feel safe, supported, and confident that their cases will be taken seriously.

The centre will build on the progress already made in tackling VAWG, helping police drive nationwide improvements. It will also bring together three existing policing programmes—Operation Soteria, the national VAWG Taskforce, and the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme (VKPP) — into a unified effort. Bringing these programmes together will create lasting improvements in policing, helping officers respond more effectively to VAWG and other public safety crimes. The focus is on moving away from short-term grants and deliverables toward long-term, stable funding. This will support sustainable improvements in policing, creating a more consistent and effective approach to tackling these crimes.

techUK's Call to Action

VAWG and CSA are central topics at techUK, especially in the context of integrating "tech for good" solutions. More than 90% of reported crimes now have a digital element, making digital inclusion a critical concern.

techUK has played a key role in collaborating with the three programmes (highlighted above) through our VAWG and RASSO Working Group, which will be merged into the new centre, ensuring that the potential of technology to combat those crimes is effectively communicated. techUK also has a seat on the Soteria tech board, chaired by Chief Constable Sarah Crew. The board engages with techUK’s tackling VAWG and RASSO working group, utilising it as a sounding board to engage with techUK members, to stay updated on the latest developments, providing feedback on policing challenges and key industry requests. The VAWG and RASSO working group has also supported the VKPP team in the second iteration of the Strategic Threat Risk Assessment (STRA).

The creation of the National Centre for Public Protection is an important step in recognising the need to address these crimes and to provide a more unified approach to training and victim support. Through the working group and other initiatives, techUK will continue to support the development of VAWG and CSA policing efforts, ensuring that technology plays an important role.

For more information on our work in the VAWG and RASSO space please reach out to the team using the contact information below and visit our Tackling VAWG and RASSO Hub.

Georgie Morgan

Head of Justice and Emergency Services | Fraud and Economic Crime Lead, techUK

Georgie joined techUK as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager in March 2020, progressing to Head of Programme in January 2022. Her portfolio then expanded in January 2024 where she now leads our work across fraud and economic crime. 

In her current role, Georgie leads techUK’s engagement and initiatives across the blue light and criminal justice sectors. She works closely with industry and stakeholders to drive innovation, address challenges, and anticipate future needs, while showcasing the critical role technology plays in delivering essential public safety and justice services. Through the JES programme, she provides a platform for suppliers, helping them navigate and establish themselves in the blue light and criminal justice markets.

Before joining techUK, Georgie spent four and a half years managing a Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) in Westminster. Collaborating with the Metropolitan Police and local councils, she focused on mitigating the impact of crime on the business community. Her efforts spanned addressing low-level street crime and anti-social behavior to managing critical incidents and violent crime.

Email:

[email protected]

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-henley/

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Cinzia Miatto

Programme Manager - Justice & Emergency Services, techUK

Cinzia joined techUK in August 2023 as the Justice and Emergency Services (JES) Programme Manager.

The JES programme represents suppliers, championing their interests in the blue light and criminal justice markets, whether they are established entities or newcomers seeking to establish their presence.

Prior to joining techUK, Cinzia worked in the third and public sectors, managing projects related to international trade and social inclusion.

Email:

[email protected]

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Ella Gago-Brookes

Junior Programme Manager - Justice and Emergency Services, techUK

Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes, before progressing into Junior Programme Manager in January 2024.

Before joining the team, she was working at the Magistrates' Courts in legal administration and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2022.  Ella attained an undergraduate degree in History and Politics, and a master's degree in International Relations and Security Studies, with a particular interest in studying asylum rights and gendered violence.  

In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, watching true crime documentaries, travelling, and making her best attempts to become a better cook.  

Email:

[email protected]

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