PCC responds to Home Office announcement on Violence Against Women and Girls

Violence against women and girls is an abhorrent crime that destroys families, and ruins lives. The Home Secretary is absolutely right that it is a national emergency – and together we must ensure that there is meaningful system wide change.

Bedfordshire has had specialist teams in place for several years, including the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, and the Emerald Team, which focuses on domestic abuse. Protecting women and girls is a core mission for both me and Bedfordshire Police. This must be locally led.

Whilst progress has been made, we require more than a strategy, it is vital that we implement programmes that continuously improve performance in prevention and enforcement. I hold the Chief Constable for achieving this continuous improvement.

We are also already working with our partners, to ensure prevention is at the heart of our work, halting the radicalisation of young men and boys in their homes, schools and online. We must call out and challenge misogyny and misogynist crime

I look forward to the publication of the government’s VAWG strategy later this week.