Police for Cornwall have pledged an “ongoing commitment” to tackling violence against women and girls after the publication of a critical National Police Chiefs Council report.

More than 1,500 police officers across the country have been accused of violent offences against women and girls over a period of six months, and less than 1% have been sacked, according to new figures in the report.

Overall, 1,483 unique allegations were reported against 1,539 police officers – or 0.7% of the workforce. There were 1,177 cases of alleged police-perpetrated violence, including sexual harassment and assault, reported between October 2021 and April 2022.

Of the 1,539 cases reported, 20 were related to allegations of misconduct by officers and staff at Devon and Cornwall Police.

The deputy chief constable Maggie Blyth, the National Police Chiefs’ Council coordinator for violence against women and girls, said she wanted to see more officers investigated, disciplined and sacked for crimes and misconduct against women and girls.

Devon and Cornwall Police said a range of measures have been put in place across the two counties to tackle the issue. 

Deputy Chief Constable Jim Colwell said: “I welcome today’s report into violence against women and girls and police performance. While I know that our communities will be rightly concerned, the data published in the report is from October 2021 to March 2022 and since then the force has implemented a range of tangible measures to tackle this vital issue.”

He said part of the force’s commitment to keep women and girls safe from harm has been to ensure more safer spaces across Devon and Cornwall, particularly at night. These are places where any member of the public can go if they are feeling vulnerable or concerned about predatory behaviour. 

DCC Colwell said: “We are also taking part in a national initiative where members of the public can use an online tool to report locations where they may not feel safe. This information is considered alongside any evidence base and used to inform the community safety activities of police and partner agencies such as local authorities. This might include improved streetlighting, increased vigilance by community watch groups or additional scrutiny from neighbourhood policing teams.”

He said Devon and Cornwall Police continues to roll out operations where officers carry out targeted patrols across Devon and Cornwall to reduce sexual violence and predatory behaviour and protect women and girls from harm. 

The Force is also part of Operation Soteria which adopts best practice from other areas and practical elements of academic research to improve the response of the police service to victims of rape and sexual offences and their experience of the criminal justice process. 

This has resulted in a greater number of cases going to court, a quicker time period from an initial report to resolution and better support for victims.

DCC Colwell said: “It is vital that we focus on our own internal culture and professional standards and behaviour to ensure that our communities have trust and confidence in us. There is no place for misogynistic or inappropriate behaviour in our force and we are determined to root this out.

“We encourage all employees to report concerns through confidential channels and ensure that reports are thoroughly investigated. Members of the public can also report inappropriate behaviour via our website or through Crimestoppers.”