Violence Against Women and Girls is unacceptable at any time.

I’m just reflecting on the work done on the Safer Streets 4 project, focussed on Violence Against Woman and Girls (VAWG), as the application for Safer Streets 5 goes in.

The Safer Streets 4 project was led by Ipswich Borough Council (IBC), in partnership with Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, Ipswich Central and Suffolk County Council. The £500,000 project delivered training, challenged perceptions and increased women’s confidence around the Waterfront, the Town Centre, University & College and the Train Station.

The priority of the VAWG Strategy is to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. VAWG itself refers to acts of violence or abuse that affect women and girls. These offences include: rape, flashing, sexual comments, stalking, cyberflashing, intrusive questioning, deliberate touching, upskirting, groping, revenge porn and domestic abuse.  It’s a depressingly long list.  Even more depressing is the conviction rate.

In England and Wales, 67,169 rapes were recorded by police in 2022.  By the end of the year, charges had been brought in just 1,276 cases.  Less than 2 in 100 rapes recorded by police in that year resulted in a charge that same year – let alone a conviction.

After being reported to the police, adult rape cases take an average of more than two years to complete in court.  Meanwhile, there is currently a record number of sexual offence cases that are waiting to complete in court.

After 13 years of Tory Government, far more criminals are being let off, far more victims are being let down and confidence in the criminal justice system is collapsing. Too often victims of crime feel that no one cares, and nothing is done. Ministers have failed to act. It just isn’t good enough for so many crimes to never even get a response.

Labour will turn things around, reversing the collapse in the proportion of crimes charged, rebuilding public confidence in both policing and the criminal justice system, and restoring the rule of law on Britain’s streets. We will work in partnership with hard working police officers and prosecutors to bring criminals to justice. It should be unthinkable for so many crimes to face no consequences but that is the shameful reality after 13 Conservative years.

Safer Streets 4 aimed to make a difference in Ipswich and has done so with several new or enhanced activities.

• Licensing Security and Vulnerability Initiative (Licensing SAVI) is a self-assessment tool designed to help licensed premises provide a safer and more secure environment for their managers, staff, customers and local communities.
• 26 new or improved CCTV cameras across the Town plus support to a further 8 cameras with part funding.
• Two new call points can be found outside Natwest Bank near the Cornhill in Ipswich Town Centre and Neptune Quay on Ipswich Waterfront were deployed to increase feelings of safety and provide faster intervention by police.
• The ‘Ask for Angela’ Scheme has been extended to include Cafes, Libraries and Retail.
• Impact Nights were being held, with visits to venues and feedback provided to them.
• A local campaign, alongside a national campaign, aimed at reducing the barriers to challenging and reporting inappropriate behaviour.
• Additional Police patrols in support of the campaign.
• Confidence and personal safety classes for community groups.
• The Ipswich Bar Watch now has more than 50 members.
• Awareness raising with a women’s safety mural on Ipswich Waterfront.

Creating a safer town is very important to IBC and its partners.  This is a step forward and Safer Streets 5 will be a further step forward. Violence Against Women and Girls is unacceptable at any time.