Norfolk campaigns to tackle violence against women and support safer nights out
Efforts to tackle male violence, abuse, and harassment of women are being highlighted across Norfolk.
Efforts to tackle male violence, abuse, and harassment of women are being highlighted across Norfolk - as the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Norfolk Constabulary mark White Ribbon Day.
As a White Ribbon Accredited organisation, the Council is asking men - and everyone - to speak up, challenge abusive attitudes and behaviours, and lend their voice to help end harassment towards women and girls.
In support of this year’s national White Ribbon Day theme, ‘We Speak Up’, a video featuring Council staff delivering the message “Let’s speak up and call it out” launches today as part of a two-week campaign on social media.
The campaign also raises awareness of the consequences of allowing cat-calling, sexist remarks, and personal space violations to go unchallenged. Cllr Jo Rust, Cabinet Member for People and Communities, explained the importance of the message:
“Everyone deserves to be treated with equality and respect regardless of gender. Sadly, a minority of men let the side down, causing women and girls to feel fear and intimidation.
Abusive attitudes and behaviours have absolutely no place in our communities. If such behaviour goes unchallenged, the consequences are significant: nearly every day there is another tragic case in the news.”
The Borough Council also seeks to challenge norms through its three-year White Ribbon Accredited action plan focusing on strategic leadership, engaging men and boys, cultural change, and wider community awareness.
Norfolk Constabulary is marking one year of its dedicated Project Vigilant patrols, which use uniformed and plain-clothes officers to proactively prevent predatory behaviour in Norwich’s night-time economy.
During the year, officers have made hundreds of interventions to de-escalate situations, safeguard vulnerable people, and challenge those showing suspicious patterns of behaviour.
Project Vigilant has identified 38 individuals assessed as posing a risk, filed over 50 safeguarding reports, and secured two Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.
Chief Constable Paul Sanford highlighted the importance of the operation, which runs during busy periods and darker nights towards Christmas:
“Everyone deserves a safe night out in Norwich. Project Vigilant focuses on identifying and challenging those who pose a risk, preventing harm before it happens.
This is about changing the approach—targeting perpetrators who harass or intimidate others and stopping offences before they occur.”
Norfolk Constabulary has shared a film about challenging unacceptable behaviour and continues to raise awareness of the Enough campaign, which encourages bystanders to call out inappropriate actions.
In an emergency, call 999 or, if unable to speak, press 55 to signal it is genuine.
For further information on White Ribbon Day or available support services, visit www.whiteribbon.org.uk/wespeakup .