Matters of Priority
1. Violence against women and girls
Out-dated sexist attitudes are at the root of this serious problem. They run deep in society, both within, and beyond our police force.
With education and awareness at the core, we will take a tough line on everything from predatory behaviour and online exploitation, to domestic abuse, sexual assault and rape. We’re committed to making our streets safe. We will help women and girls to access specialist support.
What is violence against women and girls?
Women and girls should be able to live confidently, without feeling frightened, intimidated, or harassed. Any behaviour that embarrasses, demeans, frightens, or distresses women and girls is abuse, whether it is emotional, physical, sexual, or financial. These can include, but is not limited to:
- Domestic abuse
- Sexual assault
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
- Forced marriage
- Harassment
The behaviours and acts must stop and we’re taking a hard line against those that commit these offences.
What progress has been made so far?
Since becoming an area of increased focus, we have made steps to tackle violence against women and girls head on. As well as supporting multiple local and national campaigns, we have created the Violence against Women and Girls strategy to outline how to tackle this issue, including ways in which it will be monitored and measured.
Below you can read a selection of highlights in our campaign against violence against women and girls:
- Flare Report App was introduced to give women a way to quickly, and anonymously, report incidents or behaviour that has made them feel unsafe. This information is then used by the force and its partners to take action in trouble areas and reduce the risk to women.
- Operation Kayak, the initiative aiming to help keep women safe on weekend nights, has made 122 arrests since its inception in December 2021, including 34 for sexual offences. Officers also engaged with 578 vulnerable people while on patrol during the operation.
Despite these fantastic steps the force has taken over the past few years to tackle violence against women and girls, there is still more to be done. You can keep up-to-date on our efforts over on our News page.
Advice and information
We understand that it can be difficult to ask for help, you may feel frightened or embarrassed, but it is important to remember that it is not your fault. There is a plenty of advice and support out there to help you - no matter how you are feeling.
Use the links at the bottom of this page to find out more information and access support services.