The publication of a plan to improve policing’s response to violence against women and girls (VAWG) has been hailed as a big step forward by Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing has today launched a framework which sets out action required from every police force designed to make all women and girls safer.
It includes police forces working together to challenge sexism and misogyny, building women and girls’ trust and confidence in police culture, standards and approach to VAWG and strengthening a ‘call it out’ culture.
The framework also sets out plans for every police force to expand and enhance their processes for listening to women and girls and for increased action against violent men.
It can be found in full here: VAWG Framework
Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend said: “I welcome the today’s timely publication of the VAWG framework which I hope represents a big step forward in how police forces address this vital issue.
“Preventing VAWG is one of the key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan which launched this week and I am determined to do everything I can to make sure women and girls in Surrey can feel safe and be safe in our public and private spaces.
“Whilst policing has made strides in recent years, it is clear forces must focus on rebuilding trust and confidence within our communities following recent events.
“That can only be done by tangible action to address the concerns of women and girls and we are at a crucial juncture, so I am pleased to see the range of improvements set out in the framework today.
“As PCCs, we must have a voice and help drive change too so I’m equally pleased to see that the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners is working on its own action plan which I am fully committed to supporting when it is published next year.
“In policing, we must work with the wider criminal justice system to improve both charge and conviction rates and the experience for victims while making sure they are fully supported in their recovery. Equally we must pursue offenders and bring them to justice while supporting projects that can help challenge and change perpetrators’ behaviour.
“We owe it to every woman and girl to make sure we seize this opportunity to build on the work already in place and help shape how policing can play its part in tackling this scourge in our society.”