Victims and survivors of violence against women and girls “will be believed”, the chief constable of Avon and Somerset Police has said.
This comes after figures released for the last year show that almost 40,000 crimes fitting the category of violence against women and girls were reported to Avon and Somerset Police between October 2023 and September 2024 – almost a quarter of the total 160,000 crimes reported in that time.
Avon and Somerset also has one of the worst charging rates in the country; police take an average of 626 days to charge perpetrators, which is more than double the national average of 306.
Chief Constable Sarah Crew told a Police Question Time panel that victims were reluctant to report incidents to the police.
“You’ll be believed. I think that’s the most important thing I can say. So often people feel that they won’t be. I think that’s often the first and most important thing someone wants to feel. People come forward to the police for a range of reasons, but safety is often a priority as well as seeking justice so – your safety is our priority.
“We’re here to support you and that can be done by policing, but it can be done by others as well, particularly if you still harbour some concern about policing. I’m thinking of the sexual assault referral centres or the services of independent sexual violence advisors who can guide you and navigate with you through the process…
“You’re in control, this isn’t the police taking the power away from you. This is working with you and involving you in the decisions to be made about what happens next.”
Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, Clare Moody hosted a Police Question Time earlier this week to discuss prevention of male violence against women and girls (MVAWG). She was joined by Crew, Next Link and Safe Link CEO Sarah O’ Leary, and campaigner Laura Bates.
Moody said that she was “explicit about the term male violence against women and girls” as “the victims are overwhelmingly female” and the “perpetrators are primarily male as well. I think it is important that we describe this problem as we face it, in society at large”.
Bates, who is also founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, said that “everyday misogyny” is a leading cause for MVAWG, adding that it discourages victims from speaking out as “we are programmed from birth… to think it’s just the way things are, and we should just keep quiet”.
This followed the publication of PCC Moody’s Police and Crime Plan, highlighting her priorities to prevent MVAWG though partnerships, and to ensure prompt and sufficient support for victims and survivors.
If you’ve been affected by the issues mentioned in this article, you can contact:
- Rape Crisis Support Line: 0808 500 2222
- Womankind: 0345 458 2914
- Victim Support: 08 08 16 89 111
- Or in an emergency, dial 999.
