Money secured to tackle violence against women and girls

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner has secured more than half a million pounds to help tackle violence against women and girls.

The £549,000 will come from the government’s Safer Streets fund and will be spent on a raft of projects that will help raise awareness of the problems faced by women and change attitudes amongst men and boys.

Sexual harassment is often committed in public places.

The money will be spent on initiatives including; a wide reaching public campaign designed to raise awareness of violence against women and girls and change attitudes amongst men and boys; an educational programme led by specialist workers in schools to promote healthy relationships and respect; a training programme to raise awareness of the harm faced by sex workers and homeless women and new designs to make our public spaces safer.

The police will also work closely with organisations including West Midlands Combined Authority and Transport for West Midlands to make it easier for harassment on the region’s buses, trams and trains to be reported.   

Simon Foster is the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, he said: “I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to secure this money for the region.

“Whilst not nearly enough on its own, it will help us begin the vital work of challenging and changing attitudes and behaviours amongst men and boys.

“Violence against women and girls across the country is under reported and prosecution rates are extremely low.

“I pledged in my manifesto to do far more to ensure we combat violence against women and girls and the safer streets fund is part of the action I will be taking.”