To mark International Women's Day, Northumbria Police have drawn attention to their recently published strategy about how to protect the vulnerable and tackle the issue of violence against women and girls.
The events of the past year, including the harrowing murder of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa, have entrenched women's fears for their safety. And campaigners have pleaded for solutions that focus on perpetrators rather than on women changing their behaviour.
The Northumbria Police strategy focuses on making safeguarding "everyone's business, working together and early intervention" to protect those who are most vulnerable in society.
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Detective Chief Superintendent Deborah Alderson said: "Protecting those who are vulnerable will never be exclusive to a certain role – each and every one of us can make a real difference.
“We know that we cannot solve vulnerability alone. Working together with partners and our communities as well as early intervention is key so we can help people and prevent their vulnerability escalating to crisis point.
“We are continuing to support vulnerable people by recognising and dealing with vulnerability in a number of ways.
"For example, we have designed our Vulnerability Matters training for those on the frontline so the can increasingly recognise and understand vulnerability and how to best respond. "
Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said: “As police commissioner, I see a key part of my job as breaking down barriers and improving safety and justice for women in our region.
"We are making progress with this - safety apps, awareness campaigns, enhanced police patrols at night, but there is still plenty more to do.
"This work must never stop and my thanks go to everyone working hard to make sure women and girls are and feel safe in Northumbria, Tyne and Wear.”
Det Chief Supt Alderson added: "We are already working in line with the national policing approach to eliminating violence against women and girls but we wanted to demonstrate what we are doing to help those who are vulnerable to feel safe and be safe in our communities here in Northumbria.
"We will focus on understanding vulnerability, identifying and dealing with it and showing the public more of what we are doing to keep them safe.
"We will use a problem-solving approach at the earliest intervention with a key focus on perpetrators – if we can reduce harm caused by these individual, we can begin to eradicate violence all together and absolutely help protect the most vulnerable."
International Women's Day has been celebrated since the early 1900s, and is now recognised each year on the same date.
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