SPECIALIST rape and sex offence investigators will be introduced to every police force by the end of next year, Andy Burnham has announced.

The Prime Minister criticised the original summer 2029 deadline for the teams to be set up as “too slow,” before announcing it would be brought forward by 18 months.

He said: “The scale of violence and abuse suffered by women and girls in this country is unacceptable.

“We must be laser focused on stamping out these vile crimes.”

The measures were first announced under his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer’s government in December 2025 as part of its violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy.

Refuge charity’s Ellie Butt said the measures “represent only a small portion of what is needed to ensure all survivors can access timely and effective support.

“We hope today’s announcement is the first step of many in the new Prime Minister’s plans to tackle VAWG and provide women and girls with the protections they deserve.

“Protection orders are highly underutilised and for survivors able to access an order, enforcement is often inadequate.

“Increased investment in specialist protection order teams is essential, but these professionals must also encourage a shift in internal policing culture.”