A new strategy for tackling violence against women and girls has been announced as a women’s centre was opened in Mansfield. The new strategy is a joint venture between Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner's office, local authorities ands domestic and sexual violence support practitioners in the area.
It wants to look at ways they can look at a "fundamental shift" in thinking, to ensure more perpetrators are brought to justice and that nobody is left to feel alone or oppressed. A consultation on the plan was launched at Hickling House, a new Women and Children’s Centre in Mansfield on Wednesday, March 8.
It came as Mandy Green, head of service at Nottinghamshire Women's Aid, said the new centre in Mansfield would give "much-needed" additional support for people in the county area of Nottinghamshire. She said: "There have been many people over the years that have looked into a women's centre and been unsuccessful. We feel that women and children need to have a safe, welcoming and empowering space to explore their own personal experiences."
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Mandy said: “There have been many people over the years that have looked into a women's centre and been unsuccessful. We feel that women and children need to have a safe, welcoming and empowering space to explore their own personal experiences."
The launch of the new strategy and opening of the centre marked International Women's Day. The launch event was attended by Claire Throssell MBE, who gave her support to the project and shared her experience of domestic violence, which tragically led to the murder of her two young sons, Jack and Paul, by their father in 2014.
Claire stated that she was proud to support the new Women’s and Children’s Centre. She said: "You have the chance to give a life back to every woman who walks through this door.
"Hopefully this, like a vaccine, means domestic abuse will be eradicated. It starts in places like here, schools, colleges, the work place, it stars everywhere but without hope we have nothing, and if we have nothing then nothing will ever change."
Research conducted ahead of the strategy's launch found 86% of rape cases involve women as a victim, while that figure is 81% in stalking cases and 91% of controlling and coercive behaviour incidents. Whereas on the flip side, the male suspects for these crimes is 92% for stalking, and 98% for both rape and controlling or coercive behaviour.
Police Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, Caroline Henry, said: "On International Women's Day this year it's all about embracing equality, and I don't think there's a woman here who can say that they have always been treated as an equal. What's worrying to me is the domestic violence against women and girls. Internationally this is such a huge issue, this is not specific to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire."
Caroline explained that she wants this new strategy "to make waves" by offering more protection to women and young people. She said: "This strategy is not just a piece of paper, it will have a delivery plan behind it as this is about getting stuff done, making those changes and it's starting here in Nottinghamshire.
"One of the things I am really proud of is the work we are doing going into schools because we have to change it from the bottom up, we have to change the attitudes of young people." She says many abusive behaviours have been normalised among young people, and wants to see a focus on emotional abuse.
Head of commissioning, Nicola Wade, explained that as part of their research a number of surveys and focus groups have been carried out, including numerous ones with survivors of domestic abuse. Nicola explained that the main aims of the plan are "to make it safe" for women and girls, and that the strategy has been developed over a number of months.
The strategy will have five main parts to it, which includes embedding a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and girls, and reducing the level of harm experienced by improving the criminal justice outcomes and increasing referrals into support services. The plan will also look at other methods of offering support, making sure the strategy has been helped shape by survivors to ensure it meets needs, and enhancing Nottinghamshire by working together to create a net of support.
It is hoped that the new strategy will be finalised by Summer 2023.
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