Showcase event shines spotlight on VAWG

17 September 2024

During the ongoing VAWG week of action, the Violence Reduction Partnership is holding its latest showcase event in Huddersfield on Thursday 19^th September.

Organisations will be sharing the successes of their local interventions, including a spotlight on Bradford’s Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Pilot.

Community Safety Co-ordinator, Michael Churley is speaking about the difference it has made and says:

 “To reduce violence against women and girls, we need to work with perpetrators to reduce harm and support behaviour change.

“The pilot focused on interventions with perpetrators of domestic abuse, utilising a navigation model of support that worked intensively on a one-on-one basis.

“It addressed multiple disadvantages and focused on behaviour change, with the pilot cohort reducing offending by 89.3% at the point of discharge.”

Director of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Berry is opening the event.

He is also the Head of the West Yorkshire Women’s Safety Unit, a unique collaboration between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and West Yorkshire Police. He said:

“Tackling serious violence cannot be achieved by any one agency alone. We have to work together to understand the gaps and use our partnership strengths to fill them.

“The current week of action dedicated to tackling violence against women and girls is a great example of how our combined efforts can be the difference.

“Hearing about the great projects and interventions during our event means we can collectively deliver the best possible services that talk to each other for maximum impact.”

Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, is the Chair of the Serious Violence Executive Group and added:

“We want women and girls to feel completely safe in our region and that’s why we’re leading the response to serious violence.

“It is a theme that will sit at the heart of the Mayor’s next Police and Crime Plan for West Yorkshire, so we want to hear your views on the things that matter most.

“Your feedback will also help us to develop a new Serious Violence Strategy, getting to the root causes, putting prevention first.”