'Everyone has the right to feel safe' - North Yorkshire Police
The force has released a statement following the sentencing of Wayne Couzens for the murder York woman Sarah Everard.
North Yorkshire Police says everyone has the right to feel safe, and preventing violence against women and girls is a 'key priority' for the force.
The force has released a statement following the sentencing of police officer Wayne Couzens for the murder of York woman Sarah Everard.
Speaking today Detective Superintendent Allan Harder, North Yorkshire Policeâs Lead for Safeguarding said: âEveryone has the right to feel safe.
âFor some time now the safety of women and girls has been a major concern for many. The shocking murder of Sarah Everard, originally from York, sparked an outpouring of public anger and raised questions about how we as a society, Government and key agencies can work together to stop violence.
âPreventing violence against women and girls, safeguarding victims, pursuing and prosecuting perpetrators and protecting vulnerable people is a key priority for North Yorkshire Police and has been the central strand throughout both our control strategy and the police and crime plan for a number of years.
âWhile national crime data consistently shows North Yorkshire to be one of the safest places to live and visit in the UK, we are not complacent about that. Helping our communities to feel and be safe is at the very centre of what we do every day. The policing of the night-time economy is a priority for our local commands, ensuring those who both participate and work in it are safe.
âSadly though, it has to be recognised that for many women and girls the threat of harm does not come from being outdoors. For the vast majority of those at risk, home is the most dangerous place to be.
âOver the past year our officers and staff have undergone some transformative domestic abuse training. The Domestic Abuse Matters training is a cultural change programme delivered by the national domestic abuse charity SafeLives. Designed to challenge attitudes and behaviours, it provides a unique insight into the insidious nature of coercive control and domestic abuse, enabling officers to identify the signs of abuse, understand the behaviours in play and provide more effective safeguarding to victims.
âAlongside our response to reports of abuse, manging the long-term safety of victims is also of paramount importance and effective information sharing is key to this process. We are currently working alongside the Courts and the Police National Database piloting a new process which will improve the quality and transfer of information about non-molestation orders. Better quality information will allow officers to take quicker and more effective enforcement action if a breach of the order takes place, keeping victims and those at risk safe.
âHowever, despite the influential role we play, we recognise that violence against women and girls is not just a policing issue, but a wider societal problem which requires a collaborative solution. We work very closely with key agencies such as health, child protection, housing, probation, drug and alcohol services, our commissioned service for domestic abuse IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Services) and other specialists from the voluntary sector to identify the needs of victims and ensure those needs are met through a coordinated, shared action plan.
âWe continue to work proactively with our partner agencies to identify both serial perpetrators of abuse and those who are displaying early signs of abusive behaviour. By engaging with them through support and education, we work to actively reduce the risk they pose and prevent an escalation of dangerous offending behaviour, taking enforcement action when and where required."
If you are experiencing abuse, violence or intimidation you can report it to North Yorkshire Police by calling 101. In an emergency always dial 999 and we will respond to you.
If you do not want to speak to the police, help is still available. IDAS is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire which provides support services to all those experiencing or affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. Visit www.idas.org.uk for more information or call 03000 110 110.