Labour leader focuses on VAWG during visit to Liverpool
26.07.22 - Liverpool
Labour leader Keir Starmer joined Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Chief Constable and Mayor of Liverpool as well as a host of partners for a roundtable focused on tackling and preventing Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) today.
Emily Spurrell, Serena Kennedy, and Joanne Anderson have all made tackling VAWG a priority for the region.
During his two-day visit to the region, Keir joined the three women leaders and a wide range of partners to discuss the issue of VAWG focusing on the current challenges, the work being undertaken across the region to prevent and tackle it and what more needs to be done.
The conversation focused on critical issues including the need for sustainable funding to tackle VAWG, the importance of intervening early to change attitudes and behaviours and the need for increased and enhanced support for victims.
The Labour leader heard from representatives from the PCC’s commissioned Victim Care Merseyside services RASA and Savera UK, as well as the Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service, the South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service, and the Merseyside Domestic Violence Service among others.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Radical action is needed if we are to tackle the epidemic of Violence against Women and Girls across our society.
“The Government has made lots of promises, but there has been very little action.
“It was great to have this opportunity to meet with Keir and a wide range of partners from across the region, so he could listen to the current challenges faced by those working on the frontline to tackle VAWG and all the initiatives being undertaken across the region to prevent it and provide the best possible support for victims.
“Everyone around the table today is 100% committed to tackling VAWG and, as always, the passion and will to changes things for the better shone out from all those involved in the discussion.
“It’s a commitment that’s shared by Keir too and it was really positive that he was clear that it would be a priority for Labour government too.”
Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, who chaired the roundtable, added: “‘Feeling safe is a fundamental human right. But for many women, this right is taken away from them – simply because they are women.
“Ending violence against women and girls is one of my priorities and it was fantastic today to meet with Keir and partners from across the city. We had a really informative, positive session.
“The power that drives change comes from collective knowledge, passion and ideas – and the true value of us all working together will be the impact we are able to make on the lives of women and girls in the future.’