Budget to see £435m aimed at preventing violence against women and safer streets

Rishi Sunak’s spending review will include cash aimed at beefing up CCTV, street lighting and sexual offence prosecutions – with an £80 million boost going to the Crown Prosecution Service

A package of measures aimed at preventing crime will form part of Rishi Sunak ’s budget on Wednesday – with a focus on violent offences against women.

The £435m package will beef up CCTV, street lighting and sexual offence prosecutions.

The Chancellor is expected to say that he has earmarked £355 million for measures such as improved street lighting and better CCTV, with a further £80 million going to the Crown Prosecution Service.

The announcement may be welcomed as an increasing number of women share horrific stories of being spiked by injections in nightclubs.

The Treasury said part of this funding will “improve the response to rape and sexual assault cases”.

Mr Sunak said everyone should feel safe at home, on the streets or going out, but acknowledged “this is sometimes not the case, especially for young women.”

The statement follows widespread shock at the murder of Sarah Everard at the hands of Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens and police forces dealing with hundreds of drink and injection spiking incidents.

Funding for victims is also expected to be increased, with the Treasury saying it will be £185 million, an increase of 85% from 2019-20

Mr Sunak said: “We should all feel … safe, whether we’re walking our streets, staying at home or going out for the evening – but this is sometimes not the case, especially for young women.

“That is why we’re committing hundreds of millions of pounds to change this.

“From boosting investment in better CCTV and street lighting, to better home security and support for repeat victims – we are committed to make our streets and homes safe.”