"We are listening" - We launch our largest consultation on safety of women and girls
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- Wiltshire Police launches our largest consultation to begin the conversation of tackling violence against women and girls
- This builds on the work we have already done through Project Vigilant and setting up the officer verification process
- Women and girls across the county encouraged to take part in anonymous survey to help us understand the issues that impact our communities
We’ve launched our biggest ever consultation with women and girls in our county to start the conversation on how we can make long-lasting improvements to the way we tackle violence against them.
Last year was a watershed moment for society and policing, revealing the how much more needs to be done to radically reduce violence against women and girls.
Our communities rightly demand to see changes in the way the police service understand and tackle violence against women and girls and, as a force, we are determined to seize this moment to make fundamental and enduring change.
A national framework has now been adopted by all police forces to ensure women and girls receive a better, more consistent service. In order for us to improve our local service to victims in Wiltshire, we want to start a conversation with our communities to better understand their lived and make them feel safer.
We want you to all know, we are listening.
Building on the work we’ve already started, with perpetrator focused operations like Project Vigilant and setting up the officer verification process, it is crucial that our communities feel comfortable telling us what we can do to improve our service.
Detective Chief Inspector Gemma Vinton, who is leading this work for Wiltshire Police, said: “It has become clear in the last 18 months that police forces across the country need to be doing much more to listen to the views and concerns of 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 improve our service to victims.
“We also want to reach out to those who have no trust in policing to understand why this is and what we can do to change this.
“This really is your chance to be heard and I would urge you to take the time to complete the survey and play a significant role in shaping how we police incidents of violence against women and girls and scrutinise our performance going forward.”
DCI Gemma Vinton
In addition to improving our service to women and girls within our communities, we are also focused on our own culture within Wiltshire Police. We are looking internally as part of this campaign to root out and challenge sexism and misogyny within Wiltshire Police.
Detective Superintendent Sarah Robbins, who is leading on our overall response to Violence against Women and Girls, said: “We have made some important strides forward in recent years in trying to make women and girls across Wiltshire feel safer within our communities.
“That really starts at home and making sure we have a culture within Wiltshire Police to challenge sexist behaviour and maintain the highest standards we expect of our officers and staff.
“The last 18 months have been a mirror moment for many of us in policing – we must ensure we practice what we preach and make it clear what is not acceptable.
“I hope with this campaign we can set the foundations for real change in Wiltshire.
“We will be using your feedback to shape our local response to the national work being undertaken, which is why it is so important that if you have concerns, you take this time to complete the survey and have your voice heard.
“We will listen, and we will respond accordingly.”
Supt Sarah Robbins
To take part in the survey, simply follow this link or use the QR code below - Violence against women and girls – ‘We are listening’ (office.com)
