Week long crackdown on violence against women and girls in Bath
They're also giving advice to staff inside venues on how to spot harassment
Policing teams in Bath and North East Somerset have delivered a week of action to raise awareness of violence against women and girls and drive down the threat of sexual offences taking place in our communities.
Although crimes against women and girls, including harassment, are experienced all year round and in all settings, the darker evenings in December coupled with seasonal parties create optimal conditions for perpetrators.
The seven days of action on 2nd - 8th December , which also prioritised supporting victims and vulnerable members of the public, resulted in:
- 13 arrests
- 5 drug seizures (including 150 wraps of crack cocaine)
- 1 County Line taken out
- 1 Rambo knife seized
- 35 alcohol licensing visits
- 13 VAWG awareness events
- 7 visits to high-harm victims and offenders with IOM (Integrated Offender Management)
Chief Constable Sarah Crew joined Vigilant-trained officers on the evening of Friday 6 December to support their efforts. She also met with Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, to discuss the pilot and the constabulary’s ongoing work to combat violence against women and girls across the force.
Mrs Hobhouse said: “I have long championed the rights of women to go about their lives free from harassment and it is excellent to see Avon and Somerset Police deploying preventive strategies like Project Vigilant in real time out on the streets.
“Proactive approaches such as these will hopefully mean that women in our city can feel safe and protected, particularly as they head into town for parties and celebrations this festive season.
“I was pleased to have the chance to highlight in Parliament Avon and Somerset’s fantastic efforts and I will keep pushing the government to be more ambitious in their plans to tackle street harassment and violence against women and girls.”