'I was abused - Keir Starmer's plan is dangerous and people will die'

A victim of alleged domestic abuse fears plans announced by the Government will fail to protect other women and girls. Rhiann Kirby, 43, from Grimsby, waived her lifelong right to anonymity to hit out at Labour's strategy unveiled last month (DEC) as "dangerous" and not urgent enough. She said: "Keir Starmer announced that violence against women and girls is a national emergency, that specialist officers will be in every police force by 2029.

"My case was dealt with under specialist command by specialist officers. I had the MP involved, I wrote to Government ministers and judges. It made no difference." The alleged victim feels let down by Humberside Police, with the force saying there was insufficient evidence to charge a man following his arrest. Men feel "invincible" enough to escalate their behaviour to more serious crimes as a result of dropped convictions, Ms Kirby said.

"I could sit and tell you for hours, over and over, stories and stories and stories of women let down by the police, let down by social services, let down by the courts," she added. The Government strategy being announced made her decide to speak out, because it did not sound to her like an emergency response.

Ms Kirby said: "If your house was on fire and you phoned the fire brigade and they said, 'well, we'll implement some stuff in a few years' time, but for now you can burn and die in your house,' you would be shocked. If it's an emergency, then do something about it now."

She added that there is a plaque in the garden of the women's centre in Grimsby with 15 names of women and children who were killed by their partners, "because the police have done nothing".

Ms Kirby said: "I fully expect at least one person that I've become friends with there that will probably get killed, because the police aren't doing their jobs, and courts aren't doing their jobs and the Government are doing really nothing that's helpful now.

"It is an absolute abhorrent tragedy that as women we must wait for our abusers to kill us or someone else before they are prosecuted."

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: "We understand how difficult and distressing it can be for anyone to report domestic abuse or sexual violence.

"We take all reports of these offences extremely seriously, and every investigation is carried out by specially trained officers who are committed to supporting victims and seeking justice."

The force confirmed that it had received a report relating to allegations of domestic abuse and sexual assault of a woman in Grimsby.

Officers investigated and a man was arrested in connection with the allegations. He was released on conditional bail whilst officers continued with their enquiries.

The police spokesperson added: "Following a thorough review of the evidence, a decision was made that there was insufficient evidence to charge the man with any criminal offences."

The force later received a complaint to its professional standards department highlighting concerns surrounding the management of the investigation.

Separately to this, the victim requested a Victim Right to Review which is ongoing by a senior officer independent to the initial investigation, with the force's spokesperson insisting it "will endeavour to conclude this as swiftly but as thoroughly as possible".

Ms Kirby said: "I believe the system relies on women being broken, weak and unsupported so they do not submit reviews or make complaints.

"I took all advice, told the truth, gave a full statement and a full two-hour video recorded interview.

"I provided detailed and dated logs, photos of my injuries and asked the police to collect a recording of a 101 call I made to prove I had concerns about my abuser's escalating behaviour a month before his arrest."

She added: "My case was suddenly closed without warning, without the collection of evidence, without allocation of a new officer in case and without speaking to my witness, and while I have an active complaint about the handling of my case still ongoing and unresolved."

The alleged survivor described the "honour" of meeting, talking to and making friends with a multitude of women at Women's Aid, all with different stories, different ages and different backgrounds.

Ms Kirby said: "None of them have had any justice. All of them have been let down by the police, social services, the court system or all of the above.

"None of the women I talked to feel safe or feel the police have protected them in any way. All of them feel regret for reporting their abuse and this is exactly how I feel also.

"Reporting abuse to Humberside Police is pointless in the eyes of myself and the 40-plus women I have come to know."

Sir Keir said last month that the Government's approach is one of prevention: "Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online and in her relationships. But too often toxic ideas are taking hold early and going unchallenged.

"This Government is stepping in sooner - backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear - to stop harm before it starts.

"This is about protecting girls and driving forward education and conversation with boys and young men, which is a responsibility we owe to the next generation, and one this Government will deliver."

The Government added that it is embedding specialist rape teams in every police force in England and Wales, "to ensure the right expertise is in place to investigate these crimes effectively".

"Operational independence of Chief Constables remains a cornerstone of British policing, but it is vital that all forces have the specialist officers and resources needed to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice," ministers added.

"Our reforms will deliver a consistent, specialist-led response across all forces."