Croydon Council has launched a plan to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Mayor Jason Perry launched a three-year delivery plan on the Croydon council website on July 26.
The plan aims to incorporate feedback on the council’s current domestic abuse service, the Family Justice Service (FJS), from key partners such as the police, charity groups and local survivors of violence.
Mayor Perry said: “In Croydon, we believe every woman and girl has the right to live free from violence and fear.
“Our community is coming together to make this a reality.”
The feedback helped create the plan’s priorities which include strengthening prevention and early intervention by educating communities and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions to ensure they face justice.
According to Police.uk, South Croydon’s most reported crime is “violence and sexual offences”.
On July 23, The National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing released their National Policing Statement, which reported: “Violence Against Women and Girls has reached epidemic levels in England and Wales, in terms of its scale, complexity and impact on victims.”
Croydon’s plan was approved one day later and this is the council’s first ever ‘Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Delivery Plan’.
It also highlighted some of the year’s achievements, including the FJS’s VAWG hub handling 1,500 referrals a year and training more than 200 practitioners to identify domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Perry said: “We call on everyone in Croydon to engage with our delivery plan, support victims, and stand together against violence.
“We are setting out how the council will work with our voluntary and community partners – which is crucial – to provide victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence with the support they need, when they need it.”
“If you or someone you know is affected by violence, reach out for help.”
On the services available and for more information, visit the council’s website.
Image credit: Dr Neil Clifton / Croydon Town Hall / CC BY-SA 2.0
