This panel, chaired by Cambridgeshire Chief Constable Nick Dean, explores the critical issue of violence against women and girls (VAWG) through various presentations that highlight innovative approaches to tackling this pervasive problem.

The panel consists of Abu Ullah of Brent Council, Detective Inspector Tina Wallace of Thames Valley Police and Detective Chief Inspector Dean Whitton of the Metropolitan Police.

The discussion includes the introduction of a national framework for VAWG, mapping violence in public spaces, disrupting predatory behaviour in the night time economy, and the effective use of sexual risk orders to reduce harm.

Each presentation emphasizes the importance of data-driven strategies, community collaboration, and proactive policing to enhance public safety and protect vulnerable populations.

Takeaways

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• The VAWG agenda is a national priority for policing.
• Data-driven approaches are essential for effective crime prevention.
• Understanding the spatial and temporal patterns of violence is crucial.
• Community partnerships play a vital role in safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
• Proactive policing can disrupt predatory behaviours before they escalate.
• Sexual risk orders can significantly reduce sexual harm when applied effectively.
• The concentration of harm often occurs in specific, identifiable locations.
• Young women are disproportionately affected by violence in public spaces.
• Racial disparities in victimization require targeted responses.
• Training officers in behavioral detection enhances their ability to prevent crimes.

Sound Bites

• “Violence against women and girls is a national threat.”
• “We need a place-focused response.”
• “Street harassment is often seen as low-level, meaningless.”

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Framework
02:42 – Mapping Violence Against Women and Girls in Public Spaces
06:01 – Disrupting Predatory Behavior in the Nighttime Economy
17:57 – Utilizing Sexual Risk Orders for Harm Reduction