HOME OFFICE News
Release (038/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 9 March 2009
The largest-ever
cross-Government public consultation to tackle violence against
women and girls was launched today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
It includes a review into police powers for dealing with serial
perpetrators of domestic violence and a review of the
sexualisation of teenage girls.
The Together We Can End Violence Against Women And Girls Strategy
consultation sets out action Government has taken to tackle all
forms of violence against women and girls. It looks at what more
can be done to challenge the attitudes that may uphold it in order
to help women and girls feel safer.
A new opinion poll conducted by Ipsos Mori shows that more than
one third of respondents know a woman who has been the victim of
violence by a man she knows. Furthermore, just over two in five
respondents believe that a woman should be held, either partly or
fully, responsible for being sexually assaulted or raped if she
was flirting heavily with the man before the attack.
The consultation will include public and stakeholder events in 40
towns and cities across England over the next nine weeks. Today,
the Home Secretary outlined plans to consult the public and key
stakeholders on a wide range of issues including:
* tackling persistent perpetrators - including a review into
what additional powers police and courts may need to control
violent perpetrators, particularly serial offenders who move
between relationships, led by Chief Constable Brian Moore,
Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead on domestic violence;
* helping women feel safer when they travel - including a new
website enabling the public to report where they feel safe or
unsafe and why, and the expansion of the Park Mark safer car parks scheme;
* a fact-finding review into the sexualisation of teenage girls; and
* the establishment of a new advisory group, with a specific
focus on how schools can prevent violence against women.
Jacqui Smith said:
"Violence against women and girls is unacceptable in any
form no matter what the circumstances are. We've already made
real progress, with domestic violence incidents more than halving
in the past twelve years and great improvements to the way rape
victims are supported. But I want to start a national debate on
what more we can do to prevent it and challenging attitudes which
condone it. Most importantly I want to reduce the fear of serious
violence that can infringe the absolute right of women to go about
their lives free from fear.
"Over the next twelve weeks we will be speaking to thousands
of people across the country through an interactive website, in
focus groups and at road shows in more than 40 towns across the
country. I want both men and women to engage with the consultation
and tell us what would make them, or the women in their lives,
feel and be safer. "
Today's proposals build on a programme of action that
Government has delivered to tackle sexual violence through
unprecedented investment and policies that transform the way the
Criminal Justice System deals with domestic and sexual violence.
The key questions being asked, are -
* How do we prevent violence against women from happening in the
first place?
* How do we reduce women's disproportionate fear of violence
and the disabling effect this has on many lives?
* How do we help friends, family, employers and public services
to identify early signs of violence as soon as possible and do
something about it?
* How do we make sure that women who seek specialist help, or
need to leave home to start a new life, receive a consistent level
of local support wherever they live?
* How do we protect and support the children who are growing up
in violent households?
* How do we build confidence in the criminal justice system to
improve reporting?
* How do we make sure that men who have attacked or abused
already don't continue to do so?
Brian Moore, Chief Constable of Wiltshire and ACPO lead on
Domestic Abuse, said:
"One in five of all violent crimes reported are related to
domestic abuse, while every year one in six of all murders in the
UK are domestic violence-related homicides. These statistics are
horrific and the police service is committed to doing everything
it can to protect and support victims and to arrest perpetrators
and put them before the courts.
"Our number one priority is to get the violence to stop and,
as the ACPO lead on Domestic Abuse, I am very pleased to have been
asked to lead this piece of work.
Nicola Harwin CBE, Chief Executive of Women's Aid, said:
"After many years of campaigning, Women's Aid is
pleased to see Government recognition of the importance of a
national strategy to tackle domestic and sexual violence against
women and girls. For a national strategy to work we need to have a
secure framework in place, where women and girls in every area
have access to fully funded specialist domestic and sexual
violence services.
"We also need this to be supported by prevention and public
awareness work to educate and inform about violence against women.
With a joined up response to domestic and sexual violence across
all statutory agencies, improving access to justice and
protection, we can together work towards a future where women and
girls are safe from violence and abuse."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Violence against women includes stalking, trafficking,
domestic violence, sexual violence, female genital mutilation,
forced marriage and other 'honour' related types of violence.
2. To view the consultation go to http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/keepwomensafe
3. Opinion polling conducted by Ipsos Mori shows results based on
915 telephone interviews with people aged 18+ in England and
Wales, weighted to be representative of the population profile.
This research is not part of the Home Office National Statistics
programme. To view the research go to http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/violence-against-women-poll
4. There will also be a single-decker bus tour, which will visit
local shopping centres, universities, sports grounds and train
stations, to encourage public debate. For more information please
visit http://www.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk/keepwomensafe.
The bus will be in the following regions on the dates specified:
* south east, 12-14 March;
* east, 19-21 March;
* west
Midlands, 26-28 March;
* east Midlands, 2-4 April;
* north
east, 9-11 April;
* Yorkshire and Humber, 16-18 April;
*
south west, 23-25 April;
* north west, 30 April - 2 May;
and
* London, 7-9 May.
Additional quotes
Maria Eagle, Minister for Women, said:
"Nearly a third of all women in all regions and in all
social classes experience violence at some point in their lives.
The Government strongly believes that this should not be tolerated
and further action should be taken to address this issue. We are
taking action now.
"We have made much progress - such as introducing specialist
domestic violence courts and advisors, specially trained police
officers and rape prosecutors and have set up the human
trafficking centre - but there is still a way to go. This
consultation will help us identify what more we can do to ensure
women and girls can go about their lives without fear of
harassment or violence." Roxanne Pallett, actress, said:
"I would like to offer my full support and appreciation of
the violence against women consultation. This is a hugely
important issue that is affecting girls and women everywhere
behind closed doors and the more awareness raised, the better
chance we have to offer strength to those trapped in the situation
of domestic violence."
Jamelia, singer, said:
"There is never a reason or excuse for violence against
women. I know how difficult it can be to leave a violent
relationship, and I just want everyone out there to know if they
or they suspect someone they love, is in a violent relationship
they can and should get out of it. I want to help raise awareness
of these issues which so often can be hidden away behind closed doors."
Zoe Wanamaker, actress, said:
"It is a sad fact that too many women are subject to
violence in their lives. Anything done to help combat this
insidious problem must be supported. That is why I'm giving
my backing to this important consultation on tackling violence
against women in all its forms. I urge everyone to get involved
and make their views heard so we might help bring an end to the suffering."
Beverly Knight, singer, said:
"Domestic violence is like an infection. If you leave it and
ignore it, it gets worse; and like any infection it can prove
fatal. There is no defence in the "I was provoked/my buttons
got pushed" line. A weak mind is one that resorts to
physical violence. Never let fear become the ruler of your life."
The British Parking Association said:
"The Safer Parking Scheme (Park Mark(r)) is designed to
reduce crime and the fear of crime in car parks and to improve the
safety of all people using those facilities. The British Parking
Association is therefore delighted to be given the opportunity to
work with the Home Office and its Violence Against Women Strategy
to explore how to further improve the Safer Parking Scheme from a
woman's point of view. This is another example of true
partnership with mutual benefits for all concerned."
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