Commissioner welcomes government strategy to tackle violence against women and girls

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire John Dwyer has welcomed a new strategy unveiled by the Home Office to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The strategy recommends that police forces across the country should make reducing violence against women and girls a top priority. It says this can be achieved by providing a whole system approach - providing enhanced support for victims alongside tough action against perpetrators.

John Dwyer said: “I welcome this new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. Nobody should feel unsafe when they’re going about their daily business in Cheshire. I will work closely with the Chief Constable and Cheshire Constabulary to ensure that violence against women and girls remains a top priority in Cheshire.

“I want to give victims the confidence and reassurance that we will listen to them and they will be given the support they need to seek justice, so their perpetrators face the consequences of their actions.”

The strategy also reveals that the government will provide:

• A 24 hours rape and sexual assault helpline
• £5m of funding to tackle violence in public places a night
• An online tool for women to report areas where they have felt unsafe

John Dwyer added: “In Cheshire we’ve been working hard to ensure we support victims. I’ve commissioned services which provide a wrap-around service to victims, helping them through the criminal justice process. Services such as the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) give victims the confidence that they will be listened to and support them through their difficult times.

“We are working on funding projects and services that target perpetrators of this crime, to reduce the harm and break the cycle to prevent more women in our county becoming victims of this abhorrent crime.

“I have linked in with the government’s Safer Streets funding and placed a bid to help provide solutions to help women and girls feel safer.”

You can read the full VAWG strategy here:

Tackling violence against women and girls strategy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Pictured - Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire John Dwyer.