£500k funding to tackle violence against women and girls in West Midlands
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has secured more than half a million pounds to help tackle violence against women and girls.
The £549,000 will come from the government’s Safer Streets fund and will, the PCC says, be spent on a raft of projects to help raise awareness of the problems faced by women and change attitudes amongst men and boys.
Initiatives include a "wide-reaching public campaign" designed to highlight violence against women and girls and change attitudes amongst men and boys and an educational programme led by specialist workers in schools to promote healthy relationships and respect.
There will also be a training programme to raise awareness of the harm faced by sex workers and homeless women and new designs to make public spaces safer.
The police also plan to work closely with organisations including West Midlands Combined Authority and Transport for West Midlands to make it easier for harassment on the region’s buses, trams and trains to be reported.
Simon Foster, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to secure this money for the region.
“Whilst not nearly enough on its own, it will help us begin the vital work of challenging and changing attitudes and behaviours amongst men and boys.
“Violence against women and girls across the country is under reported and prosecution rates are extremely low.
“I pledged in my manifesto to do far more to ensure we combat violence against women and girls and the safer streets fund is part of the action I will be taking.”
West Mercia has also secured funding or the same purpose from the same fund.
Two previous rounds of the SSF are already have provided increased street lighting, installation of CCTV and gates around alleyways.
This third round in which West Mercia Police has secured £1million, will focus on violence against women and girls, with education, lighting, landscaping and parks featuring within the proposed actions.
PCC John Campion said: “As Commissioner I am committed to seeing that our communities are safe and feel safe where they live.
"There is too much violence in our society, so having funding that will specifically tackle this issue is a huge step in the right direction.
"It will support the wider societal work that needs to be done – particularly around by-stander intervention education.
“I am grateful to the Government for backing communities of West Mercia by addressing the issue of violence.
"I thank partners that have supported the bids and I look forward to working with them to make our public spaces safer.”
