Anti-immigration protests in towns and cities across the UK are increasingly cloaking themselves in the language of women’s safety. From Epping to Manchester, organisers claim to be defending women and children - yet many of those leading the marches have long records of violence, trafficking, and abuse.

The government’s 2025 Spending Review expands prisons, boosts AI, and increases policing budgets - yet offers nothing new for violence against women and girls. Our analysis unpacks the strategic contradictions and offers a roadmap for real prevention.