A consultation is under way aimed at gaining a wider understanding of how safe women and girls they feel in the areas they live, work and socialise.
Last year Merseyside Police set out a strategy, which reaffirmed a commitment to keeping women and girls safe. In it they pledged to take action to:
- Engage and involve women and girls in our work to tackle violence and intimidation they face help men understand the part they have to play in eliminating violence against women and girls address feelings of safety
- Work with partners to ensure a co-ordinated and effective response to prevent and tackle violence against women and girls
- Improve the internal culture of our force to respond effectively to address sexism, misogyny and any breaches of the standard of professional behaviour
The survey, which has been compiled in consultation with partners including Liverpool City Council, will further develop and build on the work to engage with women and girls to tackle violence against them.
It follows the launch of Mayor Joanne Anderson’s violence against women and girls strategy last month.
Chief Superintendent Ngaire Waine, who is leading this work for Merseyside Police, said: “The survey is one of the many ways we are engaging with women and girls within our communities.
“We want as many women and girls as possible to complete the short survey, which is anonymous, to ensure we get the widest range of views, to help us understand how we can take action and support them.
“We want women and girls to understand how committed we are to tackling VAWG, with our partners, and we want them to trust us to do this.”
Mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, said: “I am delighted to hear this consultation is being launched. I urge as many women and girls as possible to take part and help build a comprehensive picture of how safe they feel in the places they live, work and socialise.
“I recently launched my VAWG strategy which was created after three rounds of vigorous consultation. I strongly believe that to understand and address these issues we must all listen, learn and engage.
“Partners across Liverpool are absolutely committed to working together to tackle violence against women and girls. I’m pleased that our collaborative, city-wide approach is gathering momentum and starting a crucial conversation.
“With this collective effort and shared vision, a new normal of respect and safety for women is possible.”
Merseyside’s Police Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, said: “Tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a priority for me and I know it is a priority for the Chief Constable. It is essential we make our region a safer place for women and girls to live, work and visit, free from harassment, abuse and violence.
“To do that, it is essential we listen to women’s experiences, so I welcome this consultation from Merseyside Police to take on board their views about what more policing can do to keep them safe and put effective measures in place that respond to those fears and concerns.
“This consultation is designed to build on the survey I ran 18 months ago and will inform the ongoing work being driven by my VAWG Delivery Plan to make our region safer, so I would urge you, please share your views today.”
The survey forms part of a wider consultation taking place, which will also involve speaking to men, schools, partners, victims, survivors, and officers and staff in Merseyside Police. We all need to work together to tackle and prevent violence against women and girls.
The survey is open until Sunday 26 February 2023 and you can take part here: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/interview/5e7e8aed-9ab7-4991-bd9e-ebc942640313
