Warwickshire crackdown on domestic abuse targeting women

Representatives from various agencies in Warwickshire get together to raise awareness of domestic abuse and violence against women.

The county launched its first Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy at an awareness-raising events held at the Playbox Theatre Company’s Dream Factory in Warwick.

The event, which also marked the national White Ribbon Day - a campaign dedicated to fighting against violence against women - was attended by the county council’s domestic abuse manager Sue Ingram, Dr Ravi Thiara of Warwick University’s Centre for the Study of Safety and Wellbeing, and sex and relationships educator Johnny Hunt.

Ms Ingram said: “The new strategy strengthens our efforts to tackle violence against women and girls in all its forms. Women and girls in Warwickshire experience violence and abuse because of their gender every day, but hosting an event like this helps us to bring attention to the issue.

“The White Ribbon campaign is an excellent initiative, emphasising the important, but often forgotten, role that men can play in ending violence against women.”

There were 7,247 incidents of domestic abuse reported to Warwickshire Police in the year leading up to April 2013. Twenty-three per cent of violent crimes in the county are classed as domestic abuse.

To read about Warwickshire Against Domestic Abuse, visit www.talk2someone.org.uk and for more on the White Ribbon Campaign, see www.whiteribbon.co.uk