South Wales Police Supports White Ribbon Campaign To End Violence Against Women And Girls

25th November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The White Ribbon Campaign asks men, alongside women, to pledge to never to commit, condone, or remain silent about men’s violence against women in all its forms. Wearing a white ribbon signifies that this personal pledge has been made. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In support of the White Ribbon Campaign, South Wales Police officers and staff will today march through Cardiff, alongside partner agencies, to Llandaff Cathedral where an annual multi-faith service and light a candle event is held. This is followed by 16 days of action up to 10th December, Human Rights Day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During this period our growing network of White Ribbon Ambassadors and Champions will engage with local communities to raise awareness of all forms of violence against women and girls; to help achieve a change in behaviour and; encourage victims to come forward. South Wales Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales were awarded the first joint White Ribbon accreditation in November 2014. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

White Ribbon Ambassadors Police and Crime Commissioner, Rt Hon Alun Michael, and South Wales Police Chief Constable, Peter Vaughan, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are committed to bringing an end to all forms of violence against women and girls in South Wales. To achieve this, we are doing all we can to ensure that our officers and staff understand their role in detecting violence against women and girls, safeguarding victims and pursuing perpetrators. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our White Ribbon Ambassadors and Champions are role models amongst their peers, conveying the principles of the White Ribbon Campaign to their colleagues and working with partner agencies locally to help ensure that every opportunity to intervene and help prevent violence against women and girls is taken.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

South Wales Police officers and staff receive specialist training from a health practitioner, and partner agencies such as Welsh Women’s Aid and Karma Nirvana, to support them in this role. This expert led training helps them to identify vulnerable individuals and to take prompt, positive action to protect and support them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Vulnerability training is part of the initial learning for all new recruits (police constables and community support officers), and is being made available to all South Wales Police officers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

South Wales Police recognises that anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse regardless of gender, race, class, age, religion, sexuality, mental ability, physical ability, income, lifestyle or geographical area of residence. However, the stark reality is that women are more likely to be victims of domestic abuse than men, which contrasts with all other types of violent crime where men are more likely to be victims. In the last year, November 2015 – October 2016, South Wales Police dealt with 33,914 incidents of domestic abuse. 75% of the victims were female. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As of 29th December 2015, coercive or controlling domestic abuse, even if it stops short of physical violence, became a crime punishable by up to five years in prison under section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015. South Wales Police are believed to be the first Force to achieve a conviction under the new coercive behaviour legislation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other forms of violence against women and girls include so called ‘Honour’ Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and South Wales Police was also the first force in the UK to achieve a successful conviction for forced marriage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​