Police and Council pledge to tackle violence against women and girls in BCP
It comes after a man was convicted of murdering Amie Gray on the beach
Dorset Police and partners have strengthened their commitment to tackling violence against women and girls in the BCP area, following the death of Amie Gray at Durley Chine beach.
2\0 year old Nasen Saadi, from Croydon, was convicted at Winchester Crown Court this week (Wednesday 18th December) of Amie's murder and the attempted murder of Leanne Miles in May.
The force and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council have come up with some pledges to improve VAWG risks locally:
• BCP council will be replacing the ‘Safe Bus’ at Horseshoe Common with a ‘Hub’, to be used as a safe place, staffed by volunteers and community guardians.
• Designated ‘Safe Spaces’ have been rolled out across Bournemouth. There are currently more than 120, ranging from RNLI Lifeguard towers to night-time economy venues and cover a range of opening hours. BCP Council will use a dedicated co-ordinator to extend the scheme, train new establishments, track use and outcomes, arrange ‘mystery shopper’ reality checks and run a communications campaign to promote the scheme in the run up to Christmas.
• Dorset Police continues to run dedicated operations around the night-time economy in Bournemouth town centre, which include dedicated patrols to prevent VAWG offences. These will be increased over the festive period.
• Disruption and enforcement activity remains ongoing as part of Bournemouth Together, which is a clear, hold, build strategy, addressing organised crime networks that target vulnerable members of the community.
• Following the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner securing Safer Street 5 funding, BCP Council is utilising it for a range of projects in Bournemouth town centre, such as the installation of new CCTV; expansion of the existing voluntary sector night-time community guardianship scheme for Bournemouth town centre; work with the universities and students to develop a student-led peer community guardianship scheme to cover the Lansdowne area.
• All partners have adopted the Unity Promise women’s safety charter, which consists of seven commitments and includes training businesses on how to improve safety for women and girls. Joint work with the Community Safety Partnership around the Unity Promise has also seen additional funding put into the Safe Spaces scheme.
• Over the summer months, the 100 Days of Summer initiative saw additional enhanced visible policing patrols provided during peak times in the town centre and seafront area.
• We worked with partners including AFC Bournemouth and STARs to promote White Ribbon Day and 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, highlighting the work of support agencies and offering advice around safe spaces and other issues.
• Work remains underway as part of Town Watch to promote enhanced security in licensed venues for women.
• Local policing teams actively work with partners on a range of initiatives to ensure the safety of women and girls in Dorset, including Operation Vigilant to identify potential perpetrators.
• Dorset Police is part of a national programme to improve the response it provides to victims of rape and sexual offences and their experience of the criminal justice process.
• Dorset Police officers actively engaged with universities in the run up to and during fresher’s fortnight, to ensure students were aware of personal safety initiatives and how to report offences and seek support when studying in the county.
• The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner held a VAWG Conference in the summer, to raise awareness in schools and educational establishments of violence against women and girls.
• The Community Safety Partnership of Dorset Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and BCP Council and other partners plays an important role in tackling the root causes of crime and allows us to work together to take a preventative approach.
• The Community Safety Partnership’s priorities are to reduce and tackle incidents of serious violence and domestic abuse, to work with communities to improve neighbourhood safety, keeping young people and adults at risk of harm safe from exploitation, including online risks, and tackling violence against women and girls.
Chief Superintendent Heather Dixey, BCP Local Policing Commander, said:
“Our thoughts are very much with the family and loved ones of Amie Gray as well as Leanne Miles.
“Nothing will ever make up for the horrific ordeal they have been put through as a result of the senseless violent actions of Nasen Saadi.
“We also recognise the significant impact this case has had on our wider community and we must see this tragic event as further motivation to renew our commitment to tackling issues around violence against women and girls (VAWG) and work together with partner agencies to make Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole somewhere they can feel safe and be safe.
“We have launched a range of initiatives over recent months, and we will not cease in our efforts to drive these forward and further our work in this vital area, which remains a key priority for the Force.”
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said:
“All my thoughts are with Amie Gray’s family, friends and loved ones, as well as Leanne Miles.
“While I know this verdict will not end their profound loss and trauma, I hope it will bring some small comfort that the person responsible for Amie’s death, for causing such devastation to so many lives, has rightly faced justice.
“I want to reassure people that working in partnership with Dorset Police and BCP Council along with other agencies and organisations, I am fully committed to tackling violence against women and girls through a wide number of measures and projects.
“Through long-term and more recent initiatives, we are taking robust action on this key priority and that will not stop. We know there is work to do, and we hope the public will support our endeavours as we continue with this vital mission to protect women and girls.”
Cllr Kieron Wilson, BCP Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said:
“Our hearts go out to the family of Amie Gray, and Leanne Miles and her family. We will hold them all in our thoughts going forward as we strive to prevent any future loss of lives in this way.
“We are grateful to the police for their work in securing this conviction and ensuring that Amie’s murderer was brought to justice.
“The impact that this case has had on the area is profound. It is still shocking that such a senseless act of violence could happen in such a peaceful part of our town.
“I echo the sentiments of our police colleagues at this verdict; we must use the collective sense of loss as motivation to prevent crimes of this nature. And we will work tirelessly with our partners to ensure that the area is a safe place to live.”
If you have been a victim of violence or harassment please report it to Dorset Police by calling 101. If anyone is in immediate danger, always call 999.