Online misogyny and artificial intelligence are making it harder to tackle violence against women and girls, a landmark report warns today.
The growth of image-based sexual abuse, 'manosphere' influencers such as Andrew Tate and technological developments including AI are creating new risks, more complex investigations and significant safeguarding challenges, experts say.
The National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection's (NCVPP) first report finds that technology 'now runs through virtually every form of violence against women and girls (VAWG) offending', as a tool for coercion and abuse, and 'a space in which exploitation occurs at scale and with impunity'.
It said police investigations are consequently becoming more difficult due to 'increasingly complex demand with insufficient capacity, outdated and inconsistent technology'.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap, director of the new £13million NCVPP unit, said the report provided 'the clearest understanding we have ever had of the threats facing women and girls and where we must focus our efforts'.
She added: 'Domestic abuse remains the most significant threat, but the assessment also shows how offending continues to evolve through technology, exploitation and the growing risks facing children and young people.
'It also highlights the significant role repeat perpetrators play in driving harm, reinforcing the need to identify risk earlier and intervene before more victims are affected.
'For the first time, we have a national evidence base across all VAWG and public protection offences that helps us understand these threats consistently, identify those causing the greatest harm and support action that can be scaled across England and Wales.'
A landmark report today reveals how toxic masculinity online is driving offences involving violence against women and girls
The assessment draws on existing data from a range of sources, and describes how technological advances were 'rapidly reshaping the threat landscape'.
It said online abuse, sexual extortion and image-based abuse such as revenge porn are increasingly intertwined with offending in the physical world.
This, experts said, creates new challenges for policing, safeguarding agencies and technology providers.
The report added: 'One of the most significant findings is the scale of harmful behaviour occurring between children, often influenced by online environments, peer norms and harmful content.
'While offences committed by children can cause significant harm and will be taken seriously, the assessment highlights the importance of recognising that some child perpetrators may also have experienced vulnerability, trauma or abuse themselves.
'Police and partner responses should therefore be proportionate, safeguarding-led and focused on both accountability and early intervention to reduce future harm.'
The review said it was 'highly likely' the increase of misogynistic content across mainstream online platforms over the last three years has been 'significantly influenced by algorithmic amplification, often boosting sensational or polarising material such as gender-hostile 'self-improvement' content and anti-feminist content'.
The report does not mention any specific content creators, although the 'manosphere' online network promoting anti-feminist beliefs, masculinity and misogyny was the subject of a recent Louis Theroux documentary exploring the impact of high-profile social media personalities such as HSTikkyTokky and Tate.
The report authors said the increasing amount of gender-hostile content 'normalises harmful attitudes and influences offline behaviour', particularly among boys and young men, creating 'volatile and unsafe environments for women, girls and other children'.
Ms Millichap said: 'The reality is that many violence against women and girls' offences may never be reported to police.
'We want that to change, and we know that confidence in how victims will be treated, whether they will be believed and whether they will be protected can influence whether someone comes forward.
'What we can do is continue the work to improve.
'The creation of the NCVPP, the development of the first national strategic threat risk assessment and the growing focus on identifying and managing the perpetrators causing the greatest harm are all examples of tangible progress.
'Every victim matters. Every report matters. And every opportunity we take to prevent harm before it occurs matters. That is what this assessment is designed to help us achieve.'