Violence Against Women and Girls funding

Published on: 19 October 2026

Question type: Written

Asked by: Samantha Gleave

Reference: WQ.208/2026

Answered by: Minister for Justice and Home Affairs

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WQ.208/2026

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

BY DEPUTY S.J. GLEAVE OF ST. HELIER SOUTH

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2026

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2026

Question

"In relation to the £5 million allocated to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG') in 2027, within the Proposed Budget 2027-2030, will the Minister –

provide a breakdown of each funding recipient, including –
1. the amount allocated to each recipient, broken down by the proportion of funding allocated to direct victim support and funding allocated to administrative support;
2. whether the recipient is a victim-facing service;
3. the purpose of the funding allocation;
4. whether the funding relates to new or existing VAWG services or initiatives; and
5. the intended funding outcomes, including how these outcomes will be measured and by when;
advise whether VAWG funding will result in the creation of any new Government roles, including the number and type of roles;
detail the proportion of funding allocated to training, consultancy, research, IT, data collection and communications; and
advise the proportion of funding allocated through grants, service-level agreements or commissioning arrangements with the charitable or third sector?"

Answer

In March this year, the States Assembly voted in favour of a package of legislation designed to improve the ability of the criminal justice system to respond to crimes associated with violence against women and girls (the VAWG legislation'). This package of legislation included the five items listed below:

• P.5/2026 Draft Sexual Offences (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-

• P.6/2026 Draft Harassment and Stalking (Jersey) Law 202-

• P.7/2026 Draft Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-

• P.8/2026 Draft Crime (Strangulation) (Jersey) Law 202-

• P.9/2026 Draft Crime (Public Order) (Jersey) Amendment Law 202-

These Laws create and strengthen important protections for victims of abuse in Jersey through the introduction of new intimate image abuse offences, a new stalking and harassment law, the insertion of pre- conviction emergency barring notices and orders into the domestic abuse law, a new standalone offence of strangulation, and expansion of the existing "threats offence" to includes threats relating to a wider variety of sexual offences.

During the debate on those laws, and included in the financial implications detailed in the accompanying reports as lodged by my predecessor, much attention was paid to the ability of the island's justice system to implement these laws properly. In particular, these reports outlined the estimated cost implications of this legislation that were developed through significant work undertaken to forecast the additional demand likely to be created across the criminal justice system. When States Members voted to adopt this package of legislation, they did so with the knowledge that significant investment would be required to safely and effectively enact these new laws.

The funding included in the proposed budget represents significant and much needed investment in the island's ability to respond to crimes associated with VAWG. A large proportion of this funding relates to investment into the operationalisation of the incoming package of VAWG legislation. However, a significant proportion of the funding also relates to ensuring our criminal justice system is able to meet existing demand in relation to these crimes, which has steadily increased following the work of the VAWG Taskforce and Government's commitment to address this important issue.

provide a breakdown of each funding recipient, including –

the amount allocated to each recipient, broken down by the proportion of funding allocated to direct victim support and funding allocated to administrative support;
whether the recipient is a victim-facing service;
the purpose of the funding allocation;
whether the funding relates to new or existing VAWG services or initiatives; and

The recipients of the funding allocated to VAWG in 2027 include: Justice and Home Affairs [1], States of Jersey Police (including Victim's Services), the Law Officers' Department, the Judicial Greffe and Viscount's Department, and the Official Analyst's Laboratory.

A breakdown of each funding recipient is detailed in Appendix 1. This breakdown includes:

• The amount allocated to each recipient, broken down by the proportion of funding allocated to direct victim support and funding allocated to administrative support;

• Whether the recipient is a victim-facing service;

• The purpose of the funding allocation; and

• Whether the funding relates to new or existing VAWG services or initiatives.

the intended funding outcomes, including how these outcomes will be measured and by when;

The intended funding outcomes are included in detail in each individual departmental business case. The successful submission of business cases into the Proposed Government Budget is subject to a robust review process involving oversight from Senior Leadership, Executive Leadership and at the Ministerial level.

These outcomes will be measured by:

• Successful delivery of the remaining VAWG recommendations commitments in order that that the Island transitions into a sustainable long-term programme addressing VAWG in the wider context of domestic abuse and sexual harms. This includes implementing outstanding recommendations and responding to the outputs of the criminal justice and family court reviews in a structured and coherent way.

• Successful implementation of the incoming package of VAWG legislation. This extends beyond just legislation to requiring a coordinated development of guidance, training, operational pathways and multi-agency processes to ensure consistent and effective application across the system. Without strong coordinating of these efforts, the island risks a siloed approach rather than maximising the opportunity to rationalise and coordinate a cross-agency approach, especially with regards to workforce training and victim survivor pathways.

• Creation of additional posts to align with existing demand across individual services to address resource gaps identified during the business case process. Establishment of an overarching coordination function, without which there is a risk that individual investments are delivered in isolation with limited effectiveness.

advise whether VAWG funding will result in the creation of any new Government roles, including the number and type of roles;

The VAWG allocation in the budget will:

1) Fund the following roles, related to increasing capacity within the system to meet current demand: States of Jersey Police -

• 11 x FTE Detective Constables

• 2 x FTE Detective Sergeant

• 1 x FTE Detective Inspector

2) Fund the creation of additional role in Heal th and Care Jersey to provide specialist therapeutic support for victim-survivors:

Heal th Care Jersey –

• 1 x FTE Therapeutic Psychologist

Fund the creation of two new roles relating to improving the ability of the Family Court System to respond to cases involving domestic abuse allegations and implement a Child-Focused Court Model:

Victim's Services –

• 2 x FTE JDAS IDVAs (Family Court)

Fund the following new roles, designed to support the delivery of the operational preparations required for the safe and effective implementation of the new package of VAWG legislation: Justice and Home Affairs -

• 1 x FTE Training and Delivery Support Officer

• 1 x FTE Data Analyst

Victim's Services –

• 1 x FTE Clinical Director

• 2 x FTE JDAS IDVAs

• 1 x FTE JDAS Team Manager

• 1 x FTE Victims Services Support Staff

States of Jersey Police –

• 8 x FTE Detective Constables

• 2 x FTE Detective Sergeant

• 1 x FTE Detective Inspector

• 1 x FTE L&D Trainer

• 1 x FTE Forensic Services Manager

• 1 x FTE Telecoms SPOC

• 1 x FTE Digital Forensic Investigator

• 1 x FTE Digital Forensic Technician

LOD –

• 2 x FTE Legal Adviser 2

• 1 x FTE Legal Adviser 1

Judicial Greffe –

• 3 x FTE Proceedings Officers

Viscount's Department –

• 1 x FTE Court Enforcement Officer

Official Analyst's Laboratory –

• 2 x FTE Analyst

detail the proportion of funding allocated to training, consultancy, research, IT, data collection and communications; and

Training and communications
Justice and Home Affairs	£242,000
States of Jersey Police	£192,000
TOTAL	£434,000
Consultancy
Justice and Home Affairs	£50,000
TOTAL	£50,000
Research
Justice and Home Affairs	£5,000
TOTAL	£5,000
Office set up
Justice and Home Affairs	£6,000
States of Jersey Police (including digital forensic equipment and licences)	£298,000
Law Officers' Department (includes onboarding and operational costs)	£50,000
TOTAL	£354,000
Data Collection
Justice and Home Affairs	£57,000
TOTAL	£57,000

advise the proportion of funding allocated through grants, service-level agreements or commissioning arrangements with the charitable or third sector?"

A significant proportion of the budget allocated to VAWG in 2027 is designed to fund the operationalisation of the package of VAWG legislation that the States Assembly voted to adopt in March 2026. As statutory services are the primary stakeholders involved in the operationalisation of new legislation, it is therefore reasonable that these services are the primary recipients of the funds allocated to operationalising these new laws in 2027.

Recognition of the fact significant funding would be required to safely, and effectively, enact this legislation was a key element of the debate discussion that preceded the Assembly's unanimous vote to adopt the five new laws designed to improve our ability to respond to crimes associated with violence against women and girls.

In particular, the budget allocated to VAWG in 2027 is detailed in Appendix 1.

APPENDIX 1 – 2027 BREAKDOWN OF EACH FUNDING RECIPIENT

RECIPIENT: JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS The funding allocated to Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) addresses the system-level capability required to ensure that investments to address operational demand within individual services across the criminal justice system are able to deliver their intended outcomes. Some of the funding allocated to Justice and Home Affairs has been committed to support VAWG-related training and posts in Heal th and Care Jersey. Without the overarching coordination function of JHA, there is a risk that investments into individual services will be delivered in isolation, with limited effectiveness. In particular, this investment relates to: implementing the remaining VAWG Taskforce recommendations relating to healthcare, data collection and engagement with marginalised communities; implementing the recommendations that have arisen from independent reviews into both the criminal justice and family justice systems; and coordinating the delivery of the new multi-agency policies, guidance, training and comms required for the effective operationalisation of the incoming package of VAWG legislation.
Purpose	Amount (£)	Description	Direct victim support/Victim- facing service	Administrative support	New or existing service/ initiative
Office set up	6,000	Laptops for 5 x FTE	No	Yes	N/A
HCJ Training and Delivery	83,000	Training for Heal th Care Jersey staff on VAWG, how to implement routine and targeted enquiry processes, dangers and symptoms of non-fatal strangulation, and on how to implement the new medical pathway for responding to cases non-fatal strangulation.	Yes	No	Existing - VAWG recommendation
Follow-up independent review of criminal justice system	50,000	Eleanor Laws KC to conduct follow-up review on progress towards implementing recommendations of the Laws' Review.	Yes	Yes	Existing - VAWG recommendation
1 x FTE Data Analyst (G10)	57,000	Funding for a Data Analyst post to monitor demand data for services to support the demand-led funding model agreed by GoJ to fund demand resulting from the new VAWG legislation; implement remaining VAWG Taskforce recommendations relating to a VAWG Centralised dataset and extension of the Istanbul Convention; and provide data analysis and insight into the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Harms Partnership to ensure decision-making is data-led.	No	Yes	Existing - VAWG recommendation

1 x FTE Training and Delivery Support Officer (G10)	57,000	Funding for a post to coordinate the delivery of multi-agency training related to the operationalisation of the incoming VAWG legislation, the remaining VAWG Taskforce recommendations, and the introduction of Vulnerable Witness Training for criminal justice professionals as recommended in the Laws' Review.	Yes	No	New
HCJ 1 x FTE Specialist Therapist	57,000	Funding to resource the creation of an additional Specialist Therapist post to provide therapeutic support to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence within Heal th and Care Jersey.	Yes	No	Existing - VAWG recommendation
Training and delivery costs	150,000	Funding to resource the introduction of mandatory Vulnerable Witness Training for professionals working within the criminal justice system, and to coordinate and deliver multi-agency training requirements, guidance and pathways arising from the incoming VAWG legislation.	Yes	Yes	New
Marginalised community engagement	5,000	Further research and engagement with marginalised groups to understand unique vulnerabilities in relation to VAWG and how support provision may be improved.	Yes	No	Existing - VAWG recommendation
Implementation of recommendations from independent review of family court system	50,000	Funding to resource the recommendations arising from the independent review of the family court system conducted by Hannah Markham KC, for the purposes of improving the management of cases involving domestic abuse in the family justice system for both victims and their children.	Yes	Yes	Existing - VAWG recommendation
TOTAL: £515,000 Total allocated to direct victim support/victim-facing service:£509,000 Total allocated to administrative support: £313,000

Recipient: States of Jersey Police For police and victim services, the proposed investment will strengthen the response to Violence Against Women and Girls by addressing existing operational pressures and providing the additional capacity and capability required to support implementation of the new legislation. The investment includes victim-facing investigative activity, supervisory of that activity, specialist digital and forensic capability, training, domestic abuse advocacy, clinical leadership and wider victim support. Most expenditure involves direct contact with victims. However, activity such as supervision, training, digital forensics and technology should not be regarded simply as administrative support. These are enabling functions that directly support the effective investigation of VAWG and the quality and timeliness of the service provided to victims.
Purpose	Amount	Description	Victim facing and operational support	Administrative support	New or existing service/ initiative
11 x FTE Detective Constables (PCO8)	671,000	Investigates existing VAWG demand, maintaining timely victim contact, safeguarding and case progression throughout the investigation.	Yes	No	Existing
2 x FTE Detective Sergeant (SGT4)	145,000	Supervises existing VAWG investigations, ensuring effective case management, safeguarding and consistent victim contact.	Yes	No	Existing
1 x FTE Detective Inspector (INSP4)	85,000	Directs investigation strategies for existing VAWG demand and develops the team to maintain effective, victim-focused delivery.	Yes	No	Existing
Training for Detective Constables	56,000	Maintains specialist VAWG investigative capability, supports general police onboarding and strengthens the wider skills required to deliver effective, victim-focused policing.	Yes	No	Existing
Relocation	40,000	Enables the relocation of staff and equipment to align capacity and capability with changing operational demand.	Not applicable: recruitment costs	Not applicable: recruitment costs	Existing
Office set up	35,000	Provides the essential technology and licences required to equip additional staff and support effective VAWG investigations.	Not applicable: associated costs of increasing headcount	Not applicable: associated costs of increasing headcount	Existing
8 x FTE Detective Constables (PCO8)	488,000	Investigates increased VAWG demand arising from new legislation, providing consistent victim- facing contact, safeguarding and support through the criminal justice process.	Yes	No	New
2 x FTE Detective Sergeant (SGT4)	145,000	Supervises increased VAWG investigations arising from new legislation, ensuring investigation	Yes	No	New

		quality, safeguarding and a consistent victim- focused service.
1 x FTE Detective Inspector (INSP4)	85,000	Directs investigation strategies arising from new legislation and develops the team's capability to meet changing VAWG demands.	Yes	No	New
1 x FTE L&D Trainer (CS10)	57,000	Develops and delivers training to improve VAWG services and prepare police and victim services for effective implementation of the new legislation.	Yes	No	New
1 x FTE Forensic Services Manager (CS14)	89,000	Leads and develops forensic services to meet increased VAWG demand, with flexibility to strengthen and oversee digital forensic capability as operational needs evolve.	Yes	No	New
1 x FTE Telecoms SPOC (CSO8)	45,000	Coordinates lawful access to communications data and engagement with service providers, strengthening the intelligence and evidential response across VAWG investigations.	Yes	No	New
1 x FTE Digital Forensic Investigator (CS10)	57,000	Examines and interprets digital evidence, supporting timely, effective VAWG investigations and improved outcomes for victims.	Yes	No	New
1 x FTE Digital Forensic Technician (CS10)	57,000	Recovers and processes digital evidence, supporting timely examination and effective VAWG investigations.	Yes	No	New
Training for Detective Constables	15,000	Builds the specialist and wider workforce skills required to implement the new legislation and respond effectively to increased VAWG demand.	Not applicable: training costs	Not applicable: training costs	New
Digital Forensics Unit training	50,000	Develops specialist skills to recover, examine and interpret digital evidence, strengthening DFU capability and supporting effective VAWG investigations.	Not applicable: training costs	Not applicable: training costs	New
Relocation	60,000	Enables the relocation of staff and equipment to align capacity and capability with changing operational demand.	Not applicable: costs associated with recruitment	Not applicable: costs associated with recruitment	New
Office set up	43,000	Provides the essential technology and licences required to equip additional staff and support effective VAWG investigations.	Not applicable: associated costs of increasing headcount	Not applicable: associated costs of increasing headcount	New

Forensic workstations, imaging equipment & licences	30,000	Provides the specialist technology and software required to recover, examine and interpret digital evidence supporting VAWG investigations.	Not applicable: associated costs of increasing headcount	Not applicable: associated costs of increasing headcount	New
Microsoft 365 licenses	20,000	Provides access to essential Microsoft products, communication and collaboration tools required to equip additional staff and support effective VAWG delivery.	Not applicable: associated costs of increasing headcount	Not applicable: associated costs of increasing headcount	New
Long term deep archive (cloud), 100 years, consumption based	20,000	Provides secure, consumption-based storage and preservation of digital evidence for up to 100 years, supporting evidential integrity and long-term retention requirements.	Not applicable: DFU capability	Not applicable: DFU capability	New
Internet/network security license (both sites)	35,000	Protects forensic systems and digital evidence across both sites through secure, resilient network access and threat protection.	Not applicable: DFU capability	Not applicable: DFU capability	New
Privileged access management	20,000	Controls and monitors access to sensitive forensic systems and digital evidence, reducing security risk and protecting evidential integrity.	Not applicable: DFU capability	Not applicable: DFU capability	New
Server antivirus	15,000	Protects forensic servers and digital evidence from malware and cyber threats, supporting secure and resilient DFU operations.	Not applicable: DFU capability	Not applicable: DFU capability	New
Security logging	50,000	Records and monitors activity across forensic systems, supporting threat detection, accountability and evidential integrity.	Not applicable: DFU capability	Not applicable: DFU capability	New
PKI management	10,000	Manages digital certificates and trusted identities, securing access to forensic systems and protecting the authenticity and integrity of digital evidence.	Not applicable: DFU capability	Not applicable: DFU capability	New
1 x FTE Clinical Director	83,000	Provides clinical leadership, governance and quality assurance for trauma-informed forensic medical and crisis support to victims of sexual violence.	Yes	No	New
2 x FTE JDAS IDVAs	104,000	Provide specialist risk assessment, safety planning and advocacy to victims of domestic abuse, supporting them throughout the criminal justice process.	Yes	No	New

1 x FTE JDAS Team Manager	57,000	Leads and supervises the IDVA service, ensuring effective risk management, consistent practice and high-quality support for victims of domestic abuse.	Yes	No	New
1 x FTE Victim Support	45,000	Provides trauma-informed advocacy, practical support and guidance to victims, helping them understand and navigate the criminal justice process.	Yes	No	New
Staff onboarding including training and equipment	62,000	Provides the training, equipment and technology required to onboard additional staff and support effective victim-facing services.	Not applicable: costs of training and increasing headcount	Not applicable: costs of training and increasing headcount	New
2 x FTE BASC IDVAs (Family Court)	103,000	Provide specialist risk assessment, safety planning and advocacy to victims of domestic abuse, supporting them throughout the family court process.	Yes	No	New
Training	£9,000	Builds the specialist knowledge and skills required to implement the new legislation and provide consistent, trauma-informed support to victims.	Not applicable: training costs	Not applicable: training costs	New
Office set up	£2,000	Provides essential hardware to equip additional staff and support effective, secure victim-facing services.	Not applicable: hardware costs	Not applicable: hardware costs	New
Total allocation: £2,888,000 Total allocated to direct victim support: £2,167,000 Total allocated to administrative support: £45,000

Recipient: Law Officers' Department The incoming package of VAWG legislation is anticipated to create an increase in work for the LOD of between 145 to 225 additional cases per year (an increase in workload of between 25% and 38%). The Criminal Division of the LOD cannot accommodate such a significant increase in workload on current resource levels. In order to ensure there is capacity within the Division to handle the anticipated increase in volume of cases, a corresponding increase in resourcing levels will be required which equate to a further three Legal Advisers in 2027.
Purpose	Amount	Description	Direct victim support/victim- facing service	Administrative support	New or existing service/ initiative
Onboarding costs for new staff	20,0000	Relocation and office set up costs.	No	Yes	N/a
Staff costs	323,000	2 x FTE Legal Adviser 2 (LAdv2.3) 1 x FTE Legal Adviser 1 (LAdv1.3)	Yes	No	Existing
Operational costs	30,000	Additional annual licences, software, training etc.	No	Yes	N/a
Total Allocation: £373,000 Total allocated to direct victim support: £323,000 (86.59%) Total allocated to administrative support: £50,000 (13.4%)

Recipient: Judicial Greffe and Viscount's Department The LOD have estimated that the incoming package of VAWG legislation will result in an additional 225 criminal cases per annum and that 70% of these charges will be pursued in the Courts. The anticipated increase in Court Cases will inevitably result in an increase in workload for the Court Service. To ensure there is capacity within the Court Service to manage the expected increase in court cases, additional resource will be required for the Judicial Greffe (in both the Magistrate's Court and the Royal Court) and the Viscount's Department (in the Enforcement and Court Services teams). This investment relates to investment in three additional Magistrate's Court Proceedings Officers, budget to increase temporary Usher resource when required, additional funding for Relief Magistrates where required, and one additional Court Enforcement Officer to ensure resourcing and capacity is aligned with demand.
Purpose	Amount (£)	Description	Direct victim support/victim- facing service	Administrative support	New or existing service/ initiative
Judicial Greffe: one-off costs	12,000	Onboarding	No	Yes	Existing
Judicial Greffe: staff costs	170,918	3 x FTE Proceedings Officers	Yes	No	Existing
Judicial Greffe: staff costs	15,000	Funding for additional Usher resource where required.	Yes	No	Existing
Judicial Greffe: staff costs	10,000	Funding for additional Relief Magistrate resource where required.	Yes	No	Existing
Viscount's Department: one off costs	4,000	Onboarding	No	Yes	Existing
Viscount's Department: staff costs	33,349	1 x FTE Court Enforcement Officer	Yes	No	Existing
Total allocation: £245,000 (Judicial Greffe: £208,000 and Viscount's Department: £37,000) Total allocated to direct victim support: £229,267 (93.57%) Total allocated to administrative support: £16,000 (6.53%)

Recipient: Official Analyst's Laboratory The Official Analyst's Laboratory provides essential forensic services that enable policing, safeguarding and court processes in Jersey. Recent and forthcoming legislative reforms relating to VAWG, drug-driving offences and CBD product regulation have significantly increased the operational demands placed on the Official Analyst Laboratory. The Laboratory is already operating beyond capacity with a significant backlog. Without investment, there is a clear risk that the Island will be unable to deliver on its legislative commitments, leading to delays, increased risk of legal challenge, and reduced protection for victims and consumers. This investment ensures the Government is prepared, with the capacity and capability needed to deliver legislation effectively by realigning the Laboratory's capacity and capability with current and foreseeable demand, reduce delays and rebuild operational resilience. This cost relates to investment in two analysts to meet current and anticipated demand arising from legislation relating to VAWG, drug driving and CBD.
Purpose	Amount (£)	Description	Direct victim support/ Victim- facing service	Administrative support	New or existing service/ initiative
Staff Cost	105,000	2 x FTE Analyst (G7)	No	Yes	No
Total Allocation: £105,000 Total allocated to direct victim support: 0 (0%) Total allocated to administrative support: £105,000 (100%)

[1] With funding committed for VAWG-related posts and training in Heal th and Care Jersey and victim support posts in Jersey Domestic Abuse Support service, which sits under States of Jersey Police.