New RISE Initiative Strengthens VAWG Research
The Thomas Ashton Institute is pleased to highlight , following the launch of the .
This is a major new initiative hosted within , which sits under the Institute鈥檚 wider mission to improve safety and resilience across society. The announcement from SALIENT showcases an ambitious, interdisciplinary programme led by The University of Manchester, designed to accelerate the UK鈥檚 response to one of its most pressing societal challenges.
VAWG remains widespread and underreported in the UK. Police in England and Wales recorded more than 200,000 sexual offences in 2024/25, while 2.2 million women aged 16+ experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025. These stark figures underpin the UK Government鈥檚 Safer Streets Mission and Freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy, which jointly set an ambitious goal: to halve VAWG within the next decade.
The RISE project - funded through UKRI鈥檚 R&D Missions Accelerator Programme - has been designed to help drive the evidence, innovation and national coordination needed to support that mission. RISE brings together experts in criminology, data science, public policy, and VAWG prevention.
The team is led by Professor Rose Broad, supported by colleagues including Professor Mark Elliot, Dr Richard Kirkham, Dr Caroline Miles, Professor David Gadd and Dr Reka Solymosi. This breadth of expertise reflects the complexity of understanding and preventing violence at scale.
The project鈥檚 research spans several cutting鈥慹dge strands. These activities aim not only to deepen the evidence base, but to deliver practical tools and insights for policing, community safety, and public policy. They including:
- A rapid evidence review on primary prevention of VAWG
- Development of a safety鈥慺ocused mobile app informed by the experiences of women runners
- Evaluation of multi鈥慳gency perpetrator prevention models aimed at reducing reoffending
- Analysis of Domestic Homicide Reviews, with current work including cases involving matricide
A defining feature of RISE is its commitment to cross-sector collaboration. This systems鈥憌ide approach reflects SALIENT鈥檚 mission to bring diverse expertise together to address complex risks and create real鈥憌orld impact. This means engaging charities, policing partners, academics and other specialists to:
- Share best practice
- Strengthen relationships across disciplines and services
- Identify gaps for innovation
- Build momentum for future funding and research opportunities
As part of its wider work, SALIENT has also announced a Call for Projects to fund up to ten short research projects between April and August 2026, supporting further innovation across the VAWG prevention landscape. These grants will help broaden the national community working on prevention, response and system reform. The RISE programme exemplifies the Thomas Ashton Institute鈥檚 commitment to advancing research that protects communities, supports vulnerable groups, and strengthens the evidence base behind national policy. By hosting SALIENT within our institutional ecosystem, the Institute continues to champion interdisciplinary collaborations that lead to safer, more resilient futures.
If you would like to learn more about or 鈥檚 broader work, please visit the Hub for full details.