This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7115196.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Victims face 'postcode lottery' Victims face 'postcode lottery'
(about 5 hours later)
Women who suffer violence face a "postcode lottery" when accessing support services, a report shows. Women who suffer violence face a "postcode lottery" when accessing support services, a report suggests.
The government and local authorities must do more to support the three million victims, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights says. Some of the three million victims are well served but thousands have no access to crisis centres, the End Violence Against Women coalition says.
Alongside a coalition called End Violence Against Women, it has produced a "Map of Gaps" showing how some women are well served with services. The Commission for Equality and Human Rights says most local authorities regard this "undeclared war against women" as someone else's problem.
But thousands have no access to rape crisis centres or refuges. It is calling on all authorities to improve provision within the next year.
According to the report, a third of local authorities in the UK have no specialist support service for women who have suffered violence.According to the report, a third of local authorities in the UK have no specialist support service for women who have suffered violence.
'Crisis of violence''Crisis of violence'
Most women in the UK have no access to a rape crisis centre and fewer than one quarter of local authorities have any sexual violence service. Most women in the UK have no access to a rape crisis centre and fewer than a quarter of local authorities have any sexual violence service.
See map of Violence Against Women support services in UKEnlarge MapSee map of Violence Against Women support services in UKEnlarge Map
The report shows that five areas of the UK are particularly underserved: The east of England, London, Northern Ireland, the north west and the south east. A so-called Map of Gaps in the report shows the east of England, London, Northern Ireland, the north west and the south east are particularly underserved.
Amongst the areas with the best provision are Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester and Sheffield. Among the areas with the best provision are Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester and Sheffield.
Trevor Phillips, chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, said there is a "crisis of violence" against women which society needs to address. Trevor Phillips, chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, said there was a "crisis of violence" against women which society needs to address.
He said one in 10 women will be a victim of violence in the UK this year. "The problem is, as a country, we don't appreciate the scale of violence against women," he said.
One in 10 women will be a victim of violence in the UK this year, he added.
We are calling for the government and local authorities to provide more funding to stem the tide of closures Liz Kelly, End Violence Against Women
"These women need a safe environment, somewhere they can go and feel protected, someone to talk to and a place to rebuild their lives."These women need a safe environment, somewhere they can go and feel protected, someone to talk to and a place to rebuild their lives.
"At the moment, though, they face the terrifying prospect that they are unlikely to be able to access help in their darkest hour," he said."At the moment, though, they face the terrifying prospect that they are unlikely to be able to access help in their darkest hour," he said.
"We have got into a state where although this is a very big issue, a kind of undeclared war against women, most public authorities seem to think it's not their problem," he said.
In a stark warning to public authorities, he said they were being put on notice.
If services did not improve within the next 12 months, they would be named and shamed and served a compliance notice, he said.
Liz Kelly, chair of End Violence Against Women added it was time to "plug the gaps."Liz Kelly, chair of End Violence Against Women added it was time to "plug the gaps."
She said: "Women deserve access to quality support services. We are calling for the government and local authorities to provide more funding to stem the tide of closures.She said: "Women deserve access to quality support services. We are calling for the government and local authorities to provide more funding to stem the tide of closures.
"They also need to secure the future of services - some of which have been supporting women for over three decades.""They also need to secure the future of services - some of which have been supporting women for over three decades."