MINISTERS and campaigners warned the government today that it is not acting fast enough in its response to violence against women and girls after Whitehall pledged to halve incidents within a decade.

The cross-party public accounts committee (PAC) heard evidence suggesting Whitehall is “oblivious” to the scale of the issue and that it was being outpaced in its efforts to respond amid soaring cases.

Ministers also warned the government lacked understanding of local support networks, as shelters are forced to turn away 65 per cent of people seeking help, while other services turn away about half of requests.

They called for an end to uncertainty around funding for local charities and victim support as they face a rise in demand.

The committee also focused on the Home Office’s information gathering process, which excludes under-16s from their findings.

This is a “particular concern” because young people between the ages of 11 and 20 are most likely to become victims or perpetrators of sexual violence.

At least one in 12 women each year are affected by gendered violence and one in five of all reported crimes concerns women and girls, the committee stated.

The findings come a year after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pledged to halve all incidents of violence against women and girls within the decade.

Committee member Anna Dixon said: “On some types of harm, the government appears to be oblivious to the true scale and there remains scant evidence or learning from what is working locally.”

End Violence Against Women Coalition welcomed the findings but highlighted a lack of co-ordination with the Department for Education in working with young boys.

EVAW coalition director Andrea Simon said: “This report is the latest in a series of reports from committees finding gaps and weaknesses in the government response to violence against women and girls.

“Notably, these weaknesses are around preventing abuse from happening in the first place, which we know is the most important element of ending violence against women and girls.

“We call on the government to implement these recommendations without delay.

“We need long-term, sustained political commitment that is matched with investment to make its mission of halving VAWG a reality.”

Minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls Jess Phillips thanked the PAC for its report that “highlights the significant challenges we’ve inherited from the previous government.”

She added: “We will carefully review their recommendations and respond in due course.”