Violence against women and girls is a global, national and local issue. At our Full Council meeting (Wednesday 22 November) it was agreed to work with partners and communities to address the issue in Hertsmere.
It was recognised that although Hertfordshire is considered a safe county, nowhere is immune to this challenge. The 2021 Herts Joint Strategic Needs Assessment highlighted that out of 23,000 violent and sexual offences in the county in 2020/21, two-thirds (66 per cent) of victims were female.
The motion, unanimously endorsed by all councillors in attendance, agrees that taking violence against women and girls (VAWG) seriously is everybody’s business and that recognising change on this scale requires a societal culture shift and the full commitment of all partners and communities.
Cllr Meenal Sachdev, ward councillor for Bentley Heath and The Royds, who proposed the motion, said: "The recent personal safety survey highlighted the experience many women and girls in our communities face, which is unacceptable. A staggering 72 per cent stated that they avoided going to places because they feel unsafe, 30 per cent had experienced abuse or harassment in the last two years and 23 per cent of people questioned didn’t report their experiences to police. This has to stop.
“We want to develop a ‘call it out’ culture, where staff are upstanders and not bystanders, instilling them with the confidence to challenge concerns and recognise negative patterns of behaviour. We also want to ensure victims from all communities in Hertsmere have equal access to services.”
Cllr Morris Bright MBE, who represents Elstree and seconded the motion, said: "Unfortunately, many women and girls in our borough are facing negative experiences, so it’s important that we work to address the abuse and violence our mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters and friends are facing. As a man, I believe we should call out and challenge negative behaviour, set an example to young men and support women and girls by raising this issue.
“As a council, we want to proactively address these issues by working closely with communities, partner agencies and local organisations to raise awareness of the issues, support victims as well as educate men and young boys about the consequences on certain behaviours and attitudes.”
Safety Talks have been held across the borough to help women stay safe. The sessions covered personal safety in both a woman’s professional and personal life; including public transport, traveling to and from home, lone working and work visits, as well as how to use technology to assist with safety and avoid pitfalls.
On Monday 27 November a Licensed Premises Advisory Event is being held for staff from hospitality venues across the borough, which will focus on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Attendees will hear about a range of topics from organisations, including Martyn’s Law and conflict management from the Community Security Trust; hear from the Sexual Offences Investigation Unit (SOIT) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) at Hertfordshire Police; learn about Licensing Savi, a scheme that enables premises to demonstrate they operate as safe and secure as possible, and Ask For Angela, which is a code-phrase that indicates to staff that someone needs help with their situation.
To see the motion being discussed, visit: Council - Wednesday 22 November 2023, 7:30pm - Hertsmere Borough Council Webcasting (public-i.tv) The discussion starts at 2 hrs 46 mins, 10 seconds into the webcast.
Posted on Friday 24th November 2023