URGENT: National Emergency Declared as Violence Against Women and Girls Reaches Crisis Point

Breaking News: National Emergency Declared as Violence Against Women and Girls Reaches Crisis Point Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has declared violence against women and girls a "national emergency" in the UK. This announcement comes as the government unveils a long-delayed plan to tackle the issue. The plan includes setting up specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams in every police force in England and Wales by 2029. The new teams will have officers with specialist investigation skills for working on rape and sexual offence cases. The government aims to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. This plan includes funding for undercover units operating online and the roll out of domestic abuse protection orders. The Home Secretary has criticized the current criminal justice system, stating that it "fails women." She also highlighted that the way police forces investigate cases is "too much of a postcode lottery." The government's plan is set to be unveiled on Thursday, after being pushed back three times this year. The immediate impact of this announcement is a renewed focus on tackling violence against women and girls. The government's plan aims to address the root causes of the issue and provide support to victims. This is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.