A report from National Police Chiefs’ Council is calling violence against women and girls a “national emergency.”
Supporting this call to action, Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion is committed to playing his part in tackling gender-based violence in West Mercia.
The NPCC’ report includes a number of recommendations including:
- The creation of a new dedicated policing hub to provide training to officers and investigators to provide a better service to victims.
- Forces across the UK working more closely with criminal justice partners.
- And the adoption of a framework which works in line with counterterrorism to protect women and girls.
In West Mercia, 1 in 4 crimes were committed against women and girls – accounting for 25% of all crimes recorded across the three counties.
Understanding the harm caused to victims, the PCC funds a range of services to support them to cope and recover. On Monday 22 July, he visited West Mercia Women’s Aid to see the impact the Children and Young Persons Independent Domestic Violence Advisor is making across West Mercia following his £97,000 investment. For the current financial year, the PCC has provided a total of £1.17 million of funding to the victim support service.
PCC John Campion said: “It’s a sad fact that violence against women and girls is happening too often in West Mercia.
“I am committed to tackling this epidemic head-on, and that’s why I proudly fund a range of services to break the cycle of harm, and support victims on the path to recovery which also helps them to get the justice they deserve.
“As a man, I can never experience what some women and girls endure when they leave their front door. However, this call to action from the NPCC is another positive step in acknowledging the issue on a national level and builds on the significant change I am delivering locally.”
