Survivors share views on PCC’s plan to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
21.06.22 - Merseyside
Victims and survivors of violence have shared their views with Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner on plans to tackle VAWG across the region today.
Emily Spurrell hosted two focus groups to listen to the views of those who have first-hand lived experience of VAWG on how it can be best tackled.
The forums follow on from a VAWG Summit held in April when the PCC brought more than 80 specialists, including frontline staff and voluntary organisations together, to discuss the creation of a delivery plan for making our region safer for women and girls.
The victims and survivors attending the two small group sessions, held at the Liverpool Quaker Meeting House, were asked to share their views and experiences of the police and the criminal justice process, where they think the system works well and where there are issues or blockages, as well as the support currently on offer across the region.
Attendees were also asked for their views on how organisations can intervene earlier to increase education and awareness, tackle misogyny and prevent crimes from occurring in the first place.
The feedback from today’s forums will be used to shape the PCC’s delivery plan which will set out how all organisations across Merseyside should work together to tackle VAWG.
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “Radical change is needed across the country if we are to truly tackle the epidemic of Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) which exists in our society.
“I’m committed to doing everything possible to drive change here in our region. A crucial part of that work is creating an action plan for how all organisations can prevent these crimes from happening and improve the response when sadly they do occur.
“Such a plan will only be truly effective if we listen to the voices and experiences of those who have suffered violence first-hand and that’s why today’s victim-survivor focus groups were so important to me.
“I want to ensure their voices are at the heart of this work, so I am very grateful to all the women who gave up their time to talk to me and my team about their experiences today.
“I’m committed to turning the views I heard today into a series of positive actions to ensure real change. The long-term impact on survivors of VAWG is huge and we must always have this at the forefront of our minds when undertaking any work to make women and girls feel safer and be safer across our region.”